A Comprehensive Guide to Barcode Scanners and How They are Transforming the Retail Industry
Introduction: What is a Barcode Scanner, and How Does it Work? A barcode scanner is a handheld or stationary device that reads and decodes information encoded in barcodes. Barcode scanners are commonly used in various industries, such as retail, logistics, healthcare, and manufacturing, to quickly and accurately identify products, track inventory, and improve operational efficiency. Barcodes are essentially a series of parallel lines and spaces of different widths that represent information such as a product name, price, and other identifying details. A barcode scanner uses a light source and a photosensitive sensor to read the barcode's information. When the scanner's light source illuminates the barcode, the sensor captures the reflection of the light, which is then processed by the scanner's decoder to extract the encoded information. There are several types of barcode scanners, including handheld, presentation, and fixed-mount scanners. Handheld scanners are the most...