How does a barcode scanner work – Guide
A barcode reader is an optical scanner that can read printed barcodes, decode the data contained in barcodes, and send the data to a computer.
A scanner reading a barcode is used to read the symbol and the space contents. The decoder recognizes the type of barcode symbology it is viewing, translates the bar and space contents, and transmits the data to a computer in human-readable format.
You don’t need special software to get barcode information. Just as the human brain works and how we understand what a number, letter, or image means, the decoder puts the barcode into usable context. Sometimes it may just drop data into an Excel or Access database. For more complex requirements, you may need specialized application software to keep this data in inventory records, to send and receive files, or to monitor work in progress. If you want to print barcodes from this downloaded data, you will also need specialized printing software such as BarTender® to transfer the barcode back for human reading.
How a barcode scanner works
A barcode scanner needs to be able to read the black and white zebra lines on products extremely quickly and feed that information into a computer or checkout terminal, which can immediately identify them using a product database.
The LED or laser light on the barcode illuminates to show the reader what the product is.
The photoelectric cell uses light to sense the presence of an object. The white areas of the barcode reflect most of the light, while the black areas reflect less.
As the scanner passes the barcode, the cell generates a pattern of on-off pulses that correspond to the black and white stripes. So for the code shown here (“black black black white black white black”), the cell would be “off off on off off on”.
The electronic circuit connected to the scanner converts these on-off pulses into binary digits (zeros and ones).
A computer connected to the scanner reads the binary digits and sends them to a processor. The processor detects the code as 11101011. ..
Final note
How does a barcode scanner work? In this guide, we will be discussing about how a barcode scanner works. A barcode scanner is a device used to read and decode barcodes. A typical barcode scanner can read up to 8-bit code. A barcode scanner is usually connected to a computer by USB. When you plug the USB cable into the computer, the software that comes with the barcode scanner will start up. The software will ask you to input your name and email address. After you have inputted these information, the software will ask you to choose a language. After choosing a language, the software will start up and ask you for your code number. The code number is usually located on the back of the machine or on some other location that can be seen by the machine when it is scanning codes. Once you have inputted your code number, the machine will start scanning codes. The machine will usually scan for about 10 seconds before it returns with an error message or if it has found any codes that are valid. If there are no errors found, then the machine will print out your scanned document or if it was scanned with an app like PDF Scanner, then it may also print out automatically on your printer depending on how well it did in terms of accuracy and speed!
