Bar code technology provides an easy, inexpensive, and highly accurate means of data entry and storage for computerized information management systems.

Item identification information (e.g., inventory control, work-in-progress tracking, distribution tracking, and other material management) is the most common type of data stored in bar code systems.

Most conventional bar code systems with only one-dimensional encoding, such as UPC (Universal Product Code), are called "1D Bar Codes." 1D Bar Codes consist of a single row of bars, and are best-suited to lower capacity applications, such as serial numbers.

More complex high-density, two-dimensional bar codes, such as Data Matrix, are called "2D Bar Codes." In this format, data is encoded in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions. Some 2D bar codes can encode up to 12 KB of data, with features like data compression, macro bar codes, encryption, and error correction algorithms.

This product supports more than 50 bar code formats (symbologies), as well as the EURO symbol (the European currency symbol), safety symbols, electronic, and manufacturing symbols. It also features the FreeScape system, which enables the host computer to use PCL, even if it cannot send binary data to a printer.