glossary
source: GS1 Gen Specs glossary
has part: acceptance criteria
has part: add-on symbol
has part: aggregated packaging
has part: aggregate Unique Identifier
has part: AIDC data carrier
has part: AIDC media
has part: AIDC media type
has part: AIDC media type value
has part: AIM DotCode
has part: allocation
has part: alphanumeric
has part: aperture
has part: Application Standard Profile
has part: asset type
has part: attribute
has part: autodiscrimination
has part: automatic identification and data capture
has part: auxiliary patterns
has part: bar gain/loss
has part: barcode
has part: barcode verification
has part: base unit
has part: Basic Unique Device Identifier – Device Identifier
has part: batch/lot
has part: bearer bars
has part: brand owner
has part: Character Set 39
has part: Character Set 64 (file-safe / URI-safe base64)
has part: Character Set 82
has part: check digit
has part: class level GS1 identifier
has part: Code 128
has part: codeword
has part: component/part
has part: Component/Part Identifier
has part: Composite Component
has part: compound GS1 identifier
has part: concatenation
has part: Conformant
has part: consignment
has part: consumer product variant
has part: country subdivision
has part: coupon
has part: Coupon-12
has part: Coupon-13
has part: coupon issuer
has part: customer
has part: data character
has part: data element
has part: data element field
has part: data element qualifier
has part: data element qualifier-value pair
has part: Data element value
has part: data field
has part: Data Matrix (GS1 Digital Link URI)
has part: Data Matrix symbology
has part: data titles
has part: digital coupon
has part: Digital Signature
has part: digital signature
has part: direct mode
has part: direct part marking
has part: direct print
has part: document type
has part: dynamic assortment
has part: EAN/UPC symbology
has part: EAN-13 barcode
has part: EAN-8 barcode
has part: economic operator
has part: Electronic Data Interchange
has part: Electronic Health Record
has part: Electronic Medical Record)
has part: Electronic Patient Record
has part: Electronic Product Code
has part: EPC/RFID
has part: element
has part: EU 2018/574
has part: EUDAMED
has part: even parity

acceptance criteria
comment: An allowance for a small measurement variation between commercial verifiers or operators during barcode verification testing.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

add-on symbol
comment: A barcode used to encode information supplementary to that in the main EAN/UPC barcode.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

aggregated packaging
comment: Any packaging containing more than one unit packet of tobacco products. For GS1, this may be either a trade item grouping or logistics unit.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

EU tobacco regulation 2018/574

aggregate Unique Identifier
alternative label: aUI
comment: An alphanumeric code (maximum 100 characters) used to identify aggregated packaging (e.g., cases, pallets) containing more than one unit packet of tobacco products
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

EU tobacco regulation 2018/574

AIDC data carrier
comment: Generic term for a barcode, RFID tag or NFC tag; a means of physically affixing machine-readable data to a physical entity.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

AIDC media
comment: The specific form of object/entity where a GS1 AIDC data carrier is displayed.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

AIDC media type
comment: The code list for objects/entities (e.g., patient wristband or staff ID card) that displays or carries a GS1 AIDC data carrier.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

AIDC media type value
comment: A predefined two-digit numeric code list value used to signify the AIDC media type (e.g., ID = 10, patient wristband = 01).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

AIM DotCode
comment: A two-dimensional barcode symbology rendered by printing dots per the AIM DotCode Specification.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

allocation
comment: The association of an issued GS1 Prefix, GS1 Company Prefix, or GS1 identification key to its corresponding entity or object in accordance with the GS1 rules and policies.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

alphanumeric
comment: A character set that contains alphabetic characters (letters), numeric digits (numbers) and other characters, such as punctuation marks.
example: letters
example: numbers
example: punctuation marks
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

aperture
comment: A physical opening that is part of the optical path in a device such as a scanner, photometer, or camera. Most apertures are circular, but they may be rectangular or elliptical.
example: circular
example: rectangular
example: elliptical
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Application Standard Profile
alternative label: ASP
comment: A template that records conformance requirements of existing and any future AIDC application standards, the normative decisions (MSWG, ISO, Regulation, …), maintains centralisation of cross-application rules and related technical specifications.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

asset type
comment: A component of the Global Returnable Asset Identifier (GRAI), assigned by the asset owner or manager, in order to create a unique GRAI.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

attribute
comment: Additional information about an entity identified with a GS1 identification key.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

autodiscrimination
comment: The capability of a reader to automatically recognise and decode multiple barcode symbologies.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

automatic identification and data capture
alternative label: AIDC
comment: A technology used to automatically capture data. AIDC technologies include barcodes, smart cards, biometrics and RFID.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

auxiliary patterns
comment: Components of the EAN/UPC symbology. The centre guard bar pattern, the left guard bar pattern and the right guard bar pattern are examples of these.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

bar gain/loss
comment: The increase/decrease in bar width due to effects of the reproduction and printing processes.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

barcode
comment: A symbol that encodes data into a machine readable pattern of adjacent, varying width, parallel, rectangular or square dark and light spaces. The term barcode is inclusive of all linear and two-dimensional (2D) versions.
example: linear
example: two-dimensional
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

barcode verification
comment: The assessment of the printed quality of a barcode based on ISO/IEC standards using ISO/IEC compliant barcode verifiers.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

base unit
comment: In a hierarchy of trade item groupings, the consumer trade item level or unit of use.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Basic Unique Device Identifier – Device Identifier
alternative label: BUDI-DI
comment: A unique identifier specific to a medical device family. It is represented by GS1’s Global Model Number (GMN).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

EU medical device regulation 2017/745

batch/lot
comment: Associates an item with information the manufacturer considers relevant for traceability of the trade item.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

bearer bars
comment: Bar abutting the tops and bottoms of the bars in a barcode or a frame surrounding the entire symbol, intended to equalise the pressure exerted by the printing plate over the entire surface of the symbol and/or to prevent a partial scan by the barcode reader.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

brand owner
comment: The organisation that owns the specifications of a trade item, regardless of where and by whom it is manufactured. The brand owner is normally responsible for the management of the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Character Set 39
comment: A subset of characters found in ISO 646: Unique Graphic Character Allocations which includes numeric, alphabetic upper-case, and the characters “#”, “-“ and “/”.
example: #
example: -
example: /
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Character Set 64 (file-safe / URI-safe base64)
comment: A subset of characters found in ISO 646: Unique Graphic Character Allocations and defined by section 5 of RFC4648 as a URI and filename safe base64 alphabet, which includes numeric, alphabetic upper-case and lower-case, plus the characters “-”, “_”. The “=” character is used as a special pad character and has no assigned value. The file-safe URI-safe base64 alphabet is used to represent binary data as compact alphanumeric strings, each character corresponding to a 6-bit value in the range 0-63.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Character Set 82
comment: A subset of characters found in ISO 646: Unique Graphic Character Allocations which includes numeric, alphabetic upper-case and lower-case, plus twenty special characters but excluding “space”.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

check digit
comment: Numeric character calculated from data and appended as part of the data string to ensure that the data is correctly composed and transmitted.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

class level GS1 identifier
comment: An identifier of entities which share common characteristics (e.g., all trade items allocated the same GTIN).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Code 128
comment: A linear barcode symbology fully described in ISO/IEC 15417 of which GS1-128 is a subset.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

ISO/IEC 15417:2007/Amd1:2026, Code 128 spec

codeword
comment: A symbol character value. An intermediate level of coding between source data and the graphical encodation in the symbol.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

component/part
comment: An item that is intended to undergo at least one further transformation process to create finished goods for the purpose of downstream consumption.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Component/Part Identifier
alternative label: CPID
comment: The unique identifier for a component/part, comprising a GS1 Company Prefix and a component/part reference.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Composite Component
comment: The stacked linear barcode component of a GS1 composite symbol.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

compound GS1 identifier
comment: Two or more data elements that combine a simple GS1 identifier and GS1 identifier extension(s), that identifies entities at sub-class level or instance level, where no subset of those data elements taken by themselves would do so.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

concatenation
comment: The representation of several element strings in one barcode.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Conformant
comment: The state in which a system meets a specified standard.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

consignment
comment: A grouping of logistic or transport units assembled by a freight forwarder or carrier to be transported under one transport document (e.g., waybill).
example: waybill
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

consumer product variant
alternative label: CPV
comment: An alphanumeric attribute of a GTIN assigned to a retail consumer trade item variant for its lifetime.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

country subdivision
comment: Principle administrative divisions, or similar areas, of a country included in ISO 3166-1. Examples are a state in the US, a region in France, a canton in Switzerland.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

coupon
comment: A voucher that can be redeemed at the point-of-sale for a cash value or free item.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Coupon-12
comment: Deprecated in favour of: RCN-12
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Coupon-13
comment: Deprecated in favour of: RCN-13
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

coupon issuer
comment: Party issuing the coupons, bearing the commercial and financial responsibility for the coupons.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

customer
comment: The party that receives, buys, or consumes an item or service.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

data character
comment: A single numeric digit, alphabetic character or punctuation mark, or control character, which represents meaningful information.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

data element
comment: One piece of information (e.g., GS1 informative data) or one identification component (e.g., simple GS1 identifier or GS1 identifier extension).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

data element field
comment: The data container (e.g., within a document or message or dataset) where a data element value is encoded, stored, queried, or transmitted.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

data element qualifier
comment: A set of characters that designate the meaning, character set, format and length of the data element value that it precedes or represents, as defined by the relevant technology e.g., GS1 Application Identifiers for implicit or explicit encoding in AIDC data carriers, data titles for physical labels or data base fields, GS1 Web Vocabulary properties for JSON/XML applications, etc.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

data element qualifier-value pair
comment: Combination of a data element qualifier and data element value. Also known within technology specific standards as a name-value pair, key-value pair, property-value pair, attribute-value pair or a GS1 element string (which combines a GS1 Application Identifier and a GS1 Application Identifier data field).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Data element value
comment: The characters that comprise a data element (e.g., ABC123, 220708, 117 Hopkins Street).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

data field
comment: A field that contains a GS1 identification key, an RCN, or attribute information.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Data Matrix (GS1 Digital Link URI)
comment: Data Matrix encoding data using the uncompressed form of the GS1 Digital Link URI syntax.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Data Matrix symbology
comment: A standalone, two-dimensional barcode symbology that is made up of square modules arranged within a perimeter finder pattern. Data Matrix using ECC 200 error correction is the only version that supports GS1 system identification keys, including the Function 1 Symbol Character (FNC1). Data Matrix symbols are read by two-dimensional imaging scanners or vision systems.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications
broader: two-dimensional barcode symbology

data titles
comment: Data titles are the abbreviated descriptions of element strings which are used to support manual interpretation of barcodes.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

digital coupon
comment: A digital coupon is an electronic representation of a coupon, that is distributed and presented without manifesting as “paper” or in other hard-copy form, and that can be exchanged for a financial saving or for loyalty points when making a purchase.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Digital Signature
alternative label: DigSig
comment: A data construct for encoding a digital signature within a data carrier, providing a method to authenticate barcode and RFID data. It also provides a method to link the barcode and RFID data to the labelled/tagged object. The ISO/IEC 20248 data construct which contains a X.509 digital signature is known as a DigSig. "digital signature" in lower case refers to digital signatures in general, whilst “Digital Signature” with capitals, is a named thing with the specific meaning of “DigSig”.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

ISO/IEC 20248

digital signature
comment: A compact fingerprint of data that supports tamper-detection and non-repudiation by the party who digitally signed the data. A digital signature is constructed by hashing the data then encrypting the hash using a private key. This enables independent verification by anyone, using the public key corresponding to the private key.NOTE: “digital signature” in lower case refers to digital signatures in general, whilst "Digital Signature" with capitals, is a named thing with the specific meaning of "DigSig”.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

direct mode
comment: Mobile device information retrieval function when the barcode contains either the address (URL) of the content or service, or the content itself, in-line.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

direct part marking
alternative label: DPM
comment: The process of marking a symbol on an item using an intrusive or non-intrusive method.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

direct print
comment: A process in which the printing apparatus prints the symbol by making physical contact with a substrate (e.g., flexography, ink jet, dot peening).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

document type
comment: A component of a Global Document Type Identifier (GDTI) assigned by the document issuer to create a unique GDTI.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

dynamic assortment
comment: A trade item that comprises a variable composition of a fixed total count of two or more different trade items, each identified with a GTIN.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

EAN/UPC symbology
comment: A family of barcodes including EAN-8, EAN-13, UPC-A and UPC-E barcodes as well as the 2- and 5-digit add-ons. See also EAN-8 barcode, EAN-13 barcode, UPC-A barcode and UPC-E barcode.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

EAN-13 barcode
comment: A barcode of the EAN/UPC symbology that encodes GTIN-13 or RCN-13.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

EAN-8 barcode
comment: A barcode of the EAN/UPC symbology that encodes GTIN-8 or RCN-8.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

economic operator
alternative label: EOID
comment: An economic operator is a business or other organisation which supplies goods, works or services within the context of market operations. Related to requirement for EOID for each country in which a party operates a facility.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

EU tobacco regulation 2018/574

Electronic Data Interchange
alternative label: EDI
comment: A set of global standards for electronic business messaging that allow for the automatic, electronic transmission of agreed business data directly between trading partners' computer applications
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Electronic Health Record
alternative label: EHR
comment: Information relevant to the wellness, health and healthcare of an individual, in computer-processable form and represented according to a standardized information model.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

ISO 18308:2011 on electronic health records

Electronic Medical Record)
alternative label: EMR
comment: A computerised system containing a collection of data and information related to the care rendered to an individual within a single healthcare organisation. EMR is often used interchangeably with EPR. Data contained within an EMR may be shared into an Electronic Health Record (EHR) as part of maintaining a complete record of care provided to an individual.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Electronic Patient Record
alternative label: EPR
comment: A computerised system containing a collection of data and information related to the care rendered to an individual within a single healthcare organisation. EPR is often used interchangeably with EMR. Data contained within an EPR may be shared into an Electronic Health Record (EHR) as part of maintaining a complete record of care provided to an individual.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Electronic Product Code
alternative label: EPC
comment: An identification scheme for universally identifying physical objects (e.g., trade items, assets and locations) via RFID tags and other means. The standardised EPC data consists of an EPC (or EPC Identifier) that uniquely identifies an individual object, as well as an optional filter value when judged to be necessary to enable effective and efficient reading of the EPC tags.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

EPC/RFID
comment: RFID applications in which tags carry an EPC identifier and optional supplemental data, as defined in the GS1 EPC Tag Data Standard (TDS).An EPC/RFID tag must be a Gen2 RFID tag, either High Frequency (HF) as defined in Radio-Frequency Identity Protocols EPC Class-1 HF RFID Air Interface Protocol or Ultra High Frequency (UHF) as defined in EPC Radio-Frequency Identity Generation-2 UHF RFID Standard.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

element
comment: A single bar or space of a linear barcode symbol.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

EU 2018/574
comment: A European Union Regulation on the traceability of tobacco products.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

EU tobacco regulation 2018/574

EUDAMED
comment: European database on medical devices (EUDAMED)
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Overview of EUDAMED

even parity
comment: A characteristic of the encodation of a symbol character whereby the symbol character contains an even number of dark modules.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

extension digit
comment: The first digit within the Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) which is assigned by the company that constructs the logistic unit.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Facility Identifier
alternative label: FID
comment: A unique identifier assigned by authorized ID issuers to every location where tobacco products are manufactured, stored, or first sold.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

EU tobacco regulation 2018/574

fixed length
comment: Term used to describe a data field in an element string with an established number of characters.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

fixed measure trade item
comment: An item always produced in the same predefined version (e.g., type, size, weight, contents, design) that may be sold at any point in the supply chain.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

freight forwarder
comment: The party that arranges the carriage of goods including connected services and/or associated formalities on behalf of the shipper (consignor) or consignee.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

fresh foods
comment: Trade items in the following product categories: fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood, bakery and ready to serve food such as cheeses, cold cooked or cured meats and salad, etc. Fresh foods are defined as food that is not preserved by canning, dehydration, freezing or smoking.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

full string
comment: The data transmitted by the barcode reader from reading a data carrier, including the symbology identifier as well as the encoded data.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Function 1 Symbol Character
alternative label: FNC1
comment: A symbology character used in some GS1 data carriers for specific purposes.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GCTIN
comment: Deprecated in favour of: ITIP
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

general distribution scanning
comment: Scanning environments that process barcoded trade items packaged for transport, logistic units, assets and location tags.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

general retail consumer trade item
comment: A trade item intended to be sold at retail point-of-sale identified with a GTIN-13, GTIN-12 or GTIN-8 utilising omnidirectional linear barcodes.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

general retail products
comment: All trade items that cross point-of-sale.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GLN extension component
comment: A component used to identify internal physical sub-locations within a location (such as a selling floor area, a specific area on a shelf, etc.) which is identified with a GLN (such as stores, factories, buildings, etc.).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Global Coupon Number
alternative label: GCN
comment: The GS1 identification key used to identify a coupon. The key comprises a GS1 Company Prefix, coupon reference, check digit and an optional serial number.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Global Data Synchronisation Network
alternative label: GDSN
comment: An Internet-based, interconnected network of interoperable data pools and a Global Registry, the GS1 Global Registry, that enables companies around the world to exchange standardised and synchronised supply chain data with their trading partners.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Global Document Type Identifier
alternative label: GDTI
comment: The GS1 identification key used to identify a document type. The key comprises a GS1 Company Prefix, document type, check digit and optional serial number.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Global Identification Number for Consignment
alternative label: GINC
comment: The GS1 identification key used to identify a logical grouping of logistic or transport units that are assembled to be transported under one transport document (e.g., waybill). The key comprises a GS1 Company Prefix and the freight forwarder’s or carrier’s transport reference.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Global Individual Asset Identifier
alternative label: GIAI
comment: The GS1 identification key used to identify an individual asset. The key comprises a GS1 Company Prefix and individual asset reference.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Global Location Number
alternative label: GLN
comment: The GS1 identification key used to identify locations or parties. The key comprises a GS1 Company Prefix, location reference and check digit.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Global Model Number
alternative label: GMN
comment: The GS1 identification key used to identify a product model or product family. The key comprises a GS1 Company Prefix, model reference and a check character pair.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Global Returnable Asset Identifier
alternative label: GRAI
comment: The GS1 identification key used to identify returnable assets. The key comprises a GS1 Company Prefix, asset type, check digit and optional serial number.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Global Service Relation Number
alternative label: GSRN
comment: The GS1 identification key used to identify the relationship between an organisation offering services and the recipient or provider of services. The key comprises a GS1 Company Prefix, service reference and check digit.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Global Shipment Identification Number
alternative label: GSIN
comment: The GS1 identification key used to identify a logical grouping of logistic or transport units that are assembled by the consignor (seller) for a transport shipment from that consignor to one consignee (buyer) referencing a despatch advice and/or BOL. The key comprises a GS1 Company Prefix, shipper reference and check digit.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Global Trade Item Number
alternative label: GTIN
comment: The GS1 identification key used to identify trade items. The key comprises a GS1 Company Prefix, an item reference and check digit.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 Application Identifier
alternative label: GS1 AI
comment: The field of two or more digits at the beginning of an element string that uniquely defines its format and meaning.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 Application Identifier data field
comment: The data used in a business application defined by one GS1 Application Identifier.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 check character calculation
comment: An algorithm used by the GS1 system for the calculation of the check characters to verify accuracy of data.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 check character pair
comment: A final character pair calculated from the other characters of the Global Model Number. These characters are used to check that the data has been correctly composed and transmitted.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 check digit calculation
comment: An algorithm used by the GS1 system for the calculation of a check digit to verify accuracy of data. (e.g., modulo 10 check digit, price check digit).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 Common Currency Coupon Code
comment: An identification number for coupons issued in a common currency area (e.g., the euro currency) that uses the GS1 Prefixes 981-983.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 Company Prefix
alternative label: GCP
comment: A unique string of four to twelve digits used to issue GS1 identification keys. The first digits are a valid GS1 Prefix. The length of the GS1 Company Prefix must be at least one longer than the length of the GS1 Prefix. The GS1 Company Prefix is issued by a GS1 Member Organisation. As the GS1 Company Prefix varies in length, the issuance of a GS1 Company Prefix excludes all longer strings that start with the same digits from being issued as GS1 Company Prefixes.See also U.P.C Company Prefix.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 Composite symbology
comment: A symbology consisting of a linear component (encoding the item's primary identification) associated with an adjacent Composite Component (encoding attribute data, such as a batch number or expiration date). The composite symbol always includes a linear component so that the primary identification is readable by all scanning technologies, and so that imager scanners can use the linear component as a finder pattern for the adjacent 2D Composite Component. The composite symbol always includes one of three multi-row 2D Composite Component versions (e.g., CC-A, CC-B, CC-C) for compatibility with linear- and area-CCD scanners and with linear and rastering laser scanners.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 conformant barcode
comment: A family of symbols comprising all barcodes in accordance with an application standard, the data carrier specifications and relevant GS1 symbol specification table.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 DataBar Composite symbology family
comment: A family of symbols comprising all the GS1 DataBar barcodes when an accompanying Composite Component is printed directly above the linear component.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 DataBar Expanded barcode
comment: A barcode that encodes any GS1 identification key plus attribute data, such as weight and “best before” date, in a linear symbol that can be scanned omnidirectionally by suitably programmed point-of-sale scanners.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked barcode
comment: A barcode that is a variation of the GS1 DataBar Expanded barcode that is stacked in multiple rows and is used when the normal symbol would be too wide for the application.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 DataBar Limited barcode
comment: A barcode that encodes a GTIN with a leading digit of zero or indicator digit of one in a linear symbol; for use on small items that will not be scanned at the point-of-sale.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional barcode
comment: A barcode that encodes a GTIN. It is designed to be read by omnidirectional scanners.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 DataBar Retail POS family
comment: The members of the GS1 DataBar symbology family designed to be read in segments by omnidirectional scanners at retail POS: GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional; GS1 DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional; GS1 DataBar Expanded; GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 DataBar Stacked barcode
comment: A barcode that is a variation of the GS1 DataBar Truncated barcode that is stacked in two rows and is used when the GS1 DataBar Truncated barcode would be too wide for the application.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional barcode
comment: A barcode that is a variation of the GS1 DataBar symbology that is stacked in two rows and is used when the GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional symbol would be too wide for the application. It is designed to be read by omnidirectional checkout scanners.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 DataBar Truncated barcode
comment: A barcode that is a truncated version of the GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional barcode. It is used when the GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional barcode would be too tall for small item marking applications. It is not intended for omnidirectional checkout scanning.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 DataBar®
comment: A family of barcodes, including GS1 DataBar Omnidirectional; GS1 DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional; GS1 DataBar Expanded; GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked GS1 DataBar Truncated, GS1 DataBar Limited and GS1 DataBar Stacked symbols.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 DataMatrix
comment: A subset of Data Matrix which uses the function that allows the encoding of element strings.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 data element segment
comment: Mandatory or optional parts of a data element value e.g., ITIP has two mandatory segments, GTIN in the first segment, then a piece number and total number of pieces in the second segment; GRAI has one mandatory segment for the returnable asset reference number, then an optional segment for a serial number.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 Digital Link URI
comment: A Web URI syntax for expressing GS1 identifier keys and attributes in a format using GS1 Application Identifiers and GS1 Application Identifier data fields as specified in the GS1 Digital Link standard.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 DotCode
comment: A subset of AIM DotCode which uses the function that allows the encoding of element strings.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 EANCOM®
comment: The GS1 standard for Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) that is a detailed implementation guideline of the UN/EDIFACT standard messages using the GS1 identification keys.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 element string
comment: A syntax for expressing GS1 identifier keys and attributes in a format using GS1 Application Identifiers and GS1 Application Identifier data fields.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 Global Office
alternative label: GS1 GO
comment: GS1 is a neutral, not-for-profit organisation that provides global standards for efficient business communication. GS1 Global Office, located in Brussels (Belgium) and Ewing, NJ (USA) is the guardian, and provides an open, user-driven, forum for ongoing maintenance and development, of the GS1 standards, guidelines and statutes.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 Global Standards Management Process
alternative label: GSMP
comment: The process created by GS1 to support standards development activity for the GS1 system. The GSMP uses a global consensus process to develop supply chain standards that are based on business needs and user-input.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 identification key
alternative label: GS1 key
comment: Numeric or alphanumeric strings that incorporate a GS1 Prefix, GS1 Company Prefix or GS1-8 Prefix and are the basis of the unique GS1 identifiers defined for use in an area of GS1 system application such as trade, logistics, or asset management. They may identify a class of entities (e.g., a trade item) or an instance of an entity (e.g., a logistic unit). The term GS1 identification key is for broad communications such as for marketing, licensing, policy etc
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 identification licensee
comment: The person (natural or legal) to which the right to use a GS1 Company Prefix or a GS1 identification key has been granted through an agreement with a GS1 Member Organisation or GS1 Global Office, acting as licensor. GS1 identification licensees may use the licensed GS1 Company Prefix or GS1 identification key, subject to any terms and conditions in place when the licence was granted or set by the licensor from time to time, until such time as the agreement under which the licence was granted expires or in perpetuity if the agreement has no expiration date.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 identifier
comment: Data element(s) that expresses a GS1 identification key with or without a GS1 identifier extension, to identify an entity and connect to information about that entity. The term GS1 identifier is for greater precision at the technical level, such as for GS1 standards, GS1 guidelines and end-user implementations.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 identifier extension
comment: Data element that can be used with a simple GS1 identifier to form a compound GS1 identifier.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 informative data
comment: A data element that provides information about an entity identified with a GS1 identifier, such as a use by date, its weight, or country of origin code, for the purpose of informing or completing an action or decision.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 Member Organisation
alternative label: GS1 MO
comment: A member of GS1 that is responsible for administering the GS1 system in its country (or assigned area). This task includes, but is not restricted to, ensuring user companies make correct use of the GS1 system, have access to education, training, promotion and implementation support and have access to play an active role in GSMP.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 Prefix
comment: A unique string of two or more digits issued by GS1 Global Office and allocated to GS1 Member Organisations to issue GS1 Company Prefixes or allocated to other specific areas.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 QR Code
comment: A subset of QR Code which uses the function that allows the encoding of element strings.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications
broader: two-dimensional barcode symbology
broader: QR Code symbology

GS1 symbologies using GS1 Application Identifiers
comment: All GS1 endorsed barcode symbologies that can encode more than a GTIN namely GS1-128, GS1 DataMatrix, GS1 DataBar, GS1 QR Code, GS1 DotCode and GS1 Composite.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 syntax
comment: A data structure used within the GS1 system of standards for representing data elements. GS1 syntax includes plain syntax, GS1 element string, GS1 Digital Link URI, Electronic Product Code (EPC) URI and EPC binary string.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 system
comment: The sum of all the artefacts created by the GS1 community through GS1’s community development processes, including GS1 standards, GS1 guidelines, GS1 solutions, and GS1 data services.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1 UIC Extension 1
comment: Character that follows and extends the EU 2018/574 UIC to identify a country of ID Issuer’s appointment and operation.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

EU tobacco regulation 2018/574

GS1 UIC Extension 2
comment: Character that follows GS1 UIC Extension 1 and extends the EU 2018/574 UIC to identify whether a GS1 or non-GS1 based algorithm is used.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

EU tobacco regulation 2018/574

GS1 XML
comment: The GS1 standard for extensible markup language (XML) schemas providing users with a global business messaging language of e-business to conduct efficient internet-based commerce.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1®
comment: Based in Brussels, Belgium and Princeton, USA, it is the organisation that manages the GS1 system. Its members are GS1 Member Organisations.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1-128 symbology
comment: A subset of Code 128 which uses the function that allows the encoding of element strings.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GS1-8 Prefix
comment: A unique string of two or more digits issued by GS1 Global Office and allocated to GS1 Member Organisations to issue GTIN-8s or allocated to issue RCN-8s (see RCN-8).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GTIN allocator
comment: The party that warrants the trade item declarations about a trade item to which they allocate a GTIN. This is the party who is the licensee of the GTIN applied to a specific trade item.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GTIN plus attribute(s) flag
comment: A trigger in systems to determine if additional processing is required by a barcode user for a given GTIN.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GTIN‑12
comment: The 12-digit GS1 identification key composed of a U.P.C. Company Prefix, item reference and check digit used to identify trade items.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GTIN‑13
comment: The 13-digit GS1 identification key composed of a GS1 Company Prefix, item reference and check digit used to identify trade items.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GTIN‑14
comment: The 14-digit GS1 identification key composed of an indicator digit (1-9), GS1 Company Prefix, item reference and check digit used to identify trade items.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

GTIN‑8
comment: The 8-digit GS1 identification key composed of a GS1-8 Prefix, item reference and check digit used to identify trade items.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

guard bar pattern
comment: An auxiliary pattern of bars and spaces corresponding to start or stop patterns in barcode symbologies, and serving to separate the two halves of EAN-8, EAN-13 and UPC-A symbols.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

healthcare primary packaging
comment: The first level of packaging for the product marked with an AIDC data carrier either on the packaging or on a label affixed to the packaging. For non-sterile packaging, the first level of packaging can be the packaging in direct contact with the product. For sterile packaging, the first level of packaging can be any combination of the sterile packaging system, may consist of a single item or group of items for a single therapy such as a kit. For packaging configurations that include a retail consumer trade item, primary packaging is a packaging level below the retail consumer trade item.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

healthcare provider
comment: An organisation or facility that delivers healthcare to a subject of care. Corresponds to “care delivery organisation”, “healthcare organisation”, etc.
example: care delivery organisation
example: healthcare organisation
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

healthcare secondary packaging
comment: A level of packaging marked with an AIDC carrier that may contain one or more primary packages each of which may contain a single item or multiple items.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Highly Individualised Device
comment: Device subject to EUDAMED registration via MUDI-DI as UDI-DI
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

EU medical device regulation 2017/745

Highly Individualised Device Registration Identifier
alternative label: HIDRI
comment: A special version of the Global Model Number that identifies a group of highly individualised medical devices within EUDAMED.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

EU tobacco regulation 2018/574

House Waybill Number
comment: A freight forwarder’s document used mainly as a control for the goods within the freight forwarder’s own service system.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

human readable interpretation
alternative label: HRI
comment: Characters, such as letters and numbers, which can be read by persons and are encoded in GS1 AIDC data carriers confined to a GS1 standard structure and format. The human readable interpretation is the encoded data. Start, stop, shift and function characters, as well as the symbol check character, are not shown in the human readable interpretation.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

human readable text
comment: Refers to HRI and/or non-HRI text collectively, when referencing data that is encoded into a data carrier.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Identification of an individual trade item piece
alternative label: ITIP
comment: Identifies an individual piece of a trade item that is not traded independently and therefore cannot be assigned its own GTIN. It has two mandatory segments, GTIN in the first segment (which is the GTIN for the complete trade item, represented as 14 digits), then a two-digit piece number (that identifies the individual piece of a trade item, such as the left shoe of a pair of shoes) and two-digit total number of pieces within the second four-digit segment.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Importer index
comment: Character to identify the presence or absence of an importer within the EU 2018/574 EOID, FID and MID. This means either the absence of an importer (null) or presence of one importer out of up to 63 importer possibilities per country, per GTIN.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

EU tobacco regulation 2018/574

indicator
comment: A digit from 1 to 9 in the leftmost position of the GTIN-14.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

indirect mode
comment: Mobile device information retrieval function when the code contains an identifier, which needs to be resolved to obtain the content or service. Resolving an identifier means looking it up, typically at a network service, to determine the corresponding content or service.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

individual asset
comment: An object that is part of the inventory of assets for a given company.(See also returnable asset.)
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

individual asset reference
comment: A component of the Global Individual Asset Identifier (GIAI) assigned by the asset owner or manager to create a unique GIAI.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

individual provider
comment: Any person who provides or is a potential provider of a health care service to a subject of care.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

instance level GS1 identifier
comment: An identifier of an individual entity (e.g., one specific trade item, allocated the same GTIN as others within a class, but distinguished by serial number).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Interleaved 2 of 5 symbology
comment: Barcode symbology used for the ITF-14 barcode.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

International Standard Book Number
alternative label: ISBN
comment: A 13-digit number that identifies the title or other book-like product (such as an audiobook) to which it is assigned that is obtained from the official ISBN Agency in a country.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

International Organization for Standardization
alternative label: ISO
comment: A global body developing voluntary standards for quality, safety, and efficiency across industries.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

International Standard Serial Number
alternative label: ISSN
comment: An 8-digit code used to identify newspapers, journals, magazines and periodicals of all kinds.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

inverse exponent
comment: The GS1 Application Identifier digit that denotes the implied decimal point position in an element string.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

issuance
comment: The generation of a GS1 Prefix, GS1 Company Prefix, or GS1 identification key in accordance with GS1 rules and policies by GS1 or a GS1 Member Organisation.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

item reference
comment: A component of the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) assigned by the brand owner to create a unique GTIN.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

ITF-14 barcode
comment: ITF-14 (a subset of Interleaved 2-of-5) barcodes carry GTINs only on trade items that are not expected to pass through the point-of-sale.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

kit
comment: A collection of different regulated healthcare items assembled for use in a single therapy.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

leading zero(es)
comment: Adding zeroes in the leftmost position(s) of a data string when GTIN-8, GTIN-12, or GTIN-13 are encoded in an GS1 AIDC data carrier, message, or database that requires 14-digits or when used for the same intent in other data structures such as GRAI.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

levels of AIDC marking
comment: A graduated system of AIDC marking. The graduated system is defined as minimum, enhanced and highest levels of AIDC marking.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

linear barcode
comment: Barcode symbology using bars and spaces in one dimension.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

local assigned code
alternative label: LAC
comment: A particular use of the UPC-E barcode for restricted distribution.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

location reference
comment: A component of a Global Location Number (GLN) that allows the party defining the party or location to create a unique GLN.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

logistic measures
comment: Measures indicating the outside dimensions, total weight, or volume inclusive of packing material of a logistic unit. Also known as gross measures.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

logistic unit
comment: An item of any composition established for transport and/or storage that needs to be managed through the supply chain. It is identified with a Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Made-to-Order trade item
alternative label: MtO
comment: A bespoke (e.g., customised, personalised, configurable) product or service where the GTIN, allocated per application specific rules rather than the GTIN Management Standard, plus a compound key data element (Made-to-Order variant, lot number, serial number) is required to distinguish whenever any of the trade item declarations are different in any way that is relevant to the trading process.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Made-to-Stock trade item
alternative label: MtS
comment: A product or service where a separate, unique GTIN, allocated per the GTIN Management Standard, is required to distinguish whenever any of the trade item declarations are different in any way that is relevant to the trading process.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Magnification
comment: Deprecated in favour of: X-dimension
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

main symbol
comment: The barcode containing the identification number of the item (e.g., GTIN, SSCC). Used to determine the placement of any additional barcode information.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Master Unique Device Identifier – Device Identifier
alternative label: MUDI-DI
comment: The Master UDI-DI is a unique identifier specific to a family of highly individualised medical devices for the restricted use of EUDAMED registration.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

measure verifier digit
comment: A digit calculated from the measure field in a Restricted Circulation Number (RCN) that is used to check that the data has been correctly composed.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Medical device family
comment: A group of medical devices manufactured by or for the same organization and have the same basic design and performance characteristics related to safety, intended use and function.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

merchant
comment: The party that makes a trade item available for sale. A retailer is one type of merchant. An online seller is another type of merchant.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

model reference
comment: A component of the Global Model Number (GMN) assigned by the brand owner to create a unique GMN.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

module
comment: The narrowest nominal width unit of measure in a barcode. In certain symbologies, element widths may be specified as multiples of one module. The nominal width (& height for 2D barcodes) of a single module is equivalent to the X-dimension.
example: X-dimension
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

modulo 10
comment: The name of the algorithm – a simple checksum formula in the public domain – used to create a check digit for those GS1 identification keys that require one.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

multiple unit blister/package
comment: Immediate package for a medicine with more than one single unit. Package which fully encloses the pill/caplet/capsule. Each dosage form may be individually packaged. The individually blistered dosage forms are attached to each other in one strip.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

National Healthcare Reimbursement Number
alternative label: NHRN
comment: National and/or regional identification numbers used on pharmaceutical and/or medical devices where required by national or regional regulatory organisations for product registration purposes and/or for the management of healthcare provider reimbursement.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

National Trade Item Number
alternative label: NTIN
comment: A coding scheme, administered in the healthcare sector by a national organisation for which a GS1 Prefix has been issued to permit its uniqueness within the GTIN pool but without assurance of full compatibility with GTIN functionality. The result is a product identification number assigned by a third party (not the brand owner or manufacturer). Example: the CIP (Club Inter Pharmaceutique) in France administered by the French Health Products Safety Agency (AFSSAPS).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

near field communication
alternative label: NFC
comment: A technology that uses inductive fields at 13.56 MHz to automatically capture data. An NFC system consists of NFC tags and readers. When interrogated by an NFC reader (initiator), the NFC tag (target) transmits digital data, usually a web URL, back to the reader.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

NFC Data Exchange Format
alternative label: NDEF
comment: A standard developed by the NFC Forum to encapsulate and exchange application-defined payloads (such as URIs, plain text, or custom data) between NFC-enabled devices and tag.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

non-human readable interpretation text
alternative label: non-HRI
comment: Characters such as letters and numbers that can be read by persons and may or may not be encoded in GS1 AIDC data carriers and are not confined to a structure and format based on GS1 standards (e.g., a date code expressed in a national format that could be used to encode a date field in a GS1 AIDC data carrier, brand owner name, consumer declarations).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Number System Character
comment: Deprecated in favour of: U.P.C. Prefix
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

odd parity
comment: A characteristic of the encodation of a symbol character whereby the symbol character contains an odd number of dark modules.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

offer declarations
comment: The set of all information declared (or agreed to) by the seller about the trade item (inclusive of price, availability, terms of sale, claims, condition, shipping information, returns information, etc).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

omnidirectional linear barcode
comment: A linear barcode symbology designed to be read in segments by suitably programmed laser point-of-sale (POS) scanners.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

packaging component
comment: Objects such as bottles, caps and labels to package a consumer trade item.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

packaging component number
comment: Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) attribute used to establish a relationship between a finished consumer trade item and packaging components.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

payment slip
comment: The end customer’s notification of a demand for payment for a billable service (e.g., utility bill) comprising an amount payable and payment conditions.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

physical trade item assortment/bundle
comment: A combination of different trade items that are physically combined into a single trade item, thus creating a new trade item.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

plain syntax
comment: GS1 data structure containing GS1 identification key with no additional characters or syntactic features.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

point-of-care
alternative label: POC
comment: Location where dispensing or use of a non-retail, regulated healthcare pharmaceutical or medical device to or for a patient occurs.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

point-of-sale
alternative label: POS
comment: The retail checkout where omnidirectional linear barcodes must be used to support high-volume laser-based scanning or low volume checkout where linear barcodes (or for regulated healthcare trade items, GS1 DataMatrix) are used with image-based scanners.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

predefined assortments
comment: A trade item that comprises a fixed composition of two or more different trade items, each identified with a GTIN.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

price verifier digit
comment: A digit calculated from the price element in a Restricted Circulation Number (RCN) that is used to check that the data has been correctly composed.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

print gain/loss
comment: Deprecated in favour of: bar gain/loss
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

product model
comment: A base product design or specification from which a trade item is derived.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

QR Code (GS1 Digital Link URI)
comment: QR Code encoding data using the uncompressed form of GS1 Digital Link URI syntax.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications
broader: two-dimensional barcode symbology
broader: QR Code symbology

QR Code symbology
comment: A two-dimensional barcode symbology consisting of square modules arranged in a square pattern. The symbology is characterised by a unique finder pattern located at three corners of the symbol. QR Code symbols are read by two-dimensional imaging scanners or vision systems.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications
broader: two-dimensional barcode symbology

Quiet Zone
comment: A clear space which precedes the start character and follows the stop character of a linear barcode or surrounds a 2D barcode.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications
is part of: two-dimensional barcode symbology

Quiet Zone Indicator
comment: A greater than (>) or less than (<) character, printed in the human readable field of the barcode, with the tip aligned with the outer edge of the Quiet Zone.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

radio frequency
comment: Any frequency within the electromagnetic spectrum associated with radio wave propagation. When radio frequency power is supplied to an antenna, an electromagnetic field is created that then is able to propagate through space. A radio frequency signal that can be processed by a radio frequency receiver. Many wireless technologies are based on radio frequency field propagation.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

radio frequency identification
alternative label: RFID
comment: A technology that uses radio frequency electromagnetic fields or waves to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. An RFID system consists of RFID tags and readers. When triggered by a radio frequency electromagnetic interrogation signal from a nearby RFID reader, the RFID tag transmits digital data, usually a unique identifier like an EPC, back to the reader.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

RCN-12
comment: A 12-digit Restricted Circulation Number (see Restricted Circulation Number).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

RCN-13
comment: A 13-digit Restricted Circulation Number (see Restricted Circulation Number).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

RCN-8
comment: An 8-digit Restricted Circulation Number (see Restricted Circulation Number)
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Reduced Space Symbology
alternative label: RSS
comment: Deprecated in favour of: GS1 DataBar Symbology
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

refund receipt
comment: A voucher produced by equipment handling empty containers (i.e., bottles and crates).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

regular expression
comment: A sequence of characters that specifies a search pattern that is usually used by string-searching algorithms for search / find-and-replace operations on strings or for validation of string input.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

regulated healthcare non-retail consumer trade item
comment: A regulated healthcare trade item not intended for scanning at POS and identified with a GTIN-14, GTIN-13, GTIN-12 or GTIN-8 utilising linear or 2D barcodes that can be scanned by image-based scanners.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

regulated healthcare retail consumer trade item
comment: A regulated healthcare trade item to be sold to the end consumers at a regulated healthcare retail point-of-sale (i.e., pharmacies). They are identified with a GTIN-13, GTIN-12 or GTIN-8 utilising linear or GS1 DataMatrix barcodes that can be scanned by image-based scanners.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

regulated healthcare trade item
alternative label: RHTI
comment: Pharmaceuticals or medical devices that are sold or dispensed in a controlled environment (e.g., retail pharmacy, hospital pharmacy).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

responsible entity
comment: The party responsible for the safety and effectiveness of the medical product at a moment in time in its life cycle, according to the approved regulatory file (including labelling) and regulatory/legal/professional obligations associated with the medical product. (e.g., brand owner, repackager, hospital pharmacy, etc.)
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Restricted Circulation Number
alternative label: RCN
comment: An identification number used for special applications in restricted environments, either defined by local GS1 Member Organisations (for regional applications such as variable measure product identification and, couponing) or by a company (for internal applications).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

retail consumer trade item variant
comment: A variation of change to a retail consumer trade item (which may itself be a homogeneous or predefined assortment of other retail consumer trade items) which does not require a new GTIN, but where identification of the variation may be required.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

returnable asset
comment: A reusable entity owned by a company that is used for transport and storage of goods. It is identified with a GRAI.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

SCC-14
comment: Deprecated in favour of: Global Trade Item Number
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

separator character
comment: Special character(s) that are defined as part of GS1 symbologies and used to separate concatenated element strings, based on their positioning in the GS1 barcodes.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

serial number
comment: A code, numeric or alphanumeric, assigned to an individual instance of an entity for its lifetime. Example: a unique individual item may be identified with the combined Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) and serial number.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

serial reference
comment: A component of the Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) assigned by the physical builder or brand owner of the logistic unit to create a unique SSCC.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Serial Shipping Container Code
alternative label: SSCC
comment: The GS1 identification key used to identify logistics units. The key comprises an extension digit, GS1 Company Prefix, serial reference and check digit.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

service reference
comment: A component of the Global Service Relation Number (GSRN) assigned by the issuing organisation to create a unique GSRN.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

service relation instance number
alternative label: SRIN
comment: An attribute to the GSRN which allows to distinguish different encounters during a service relationship.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

shipment
comment: A grouping of logistic and transport units assembled and identified by the seller (sender) of the goods travelling under one despatch advice and/or Bill of Lading to one customer (recipient).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

short life items
comment: An item, preparation or reconstituted product with limited use/shelf life.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

simple GS1 identifier
comment: A single data element that identifies an entity at class level or instance level.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

single unit package/blister
comment: A healthcare primary package that contains one discrete pharmaceutical dosage form, i.e. a tablet, a certain volume of a liquid or that is the immediate package for a medical device like a syringe. A number of single units attached to each other, but are easily separated through a perforation would be included.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

standard contact lenses
comment: A type of highly individualised device, (typically made-to-stock and identified by GTIN for trade purposes), registered in EUDAMED per European Medical Device Regulations (MDR)
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

EU medical device regulation 2017/745

sterile packaging system
comment: A combination of the sterile barrier system (the minimum package that prevents ingress of microorganisms and allows aseptic presentation of the product at the point of use) and the protective packaging (configuration of materials designed to prevent damage to the sterile barrier system and its contents until the point of use).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

stock keeping unit
alternative label: SKU
comment: A widely used industry term generally referring to a retailer’s internal product code.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

string
comment: A series of alphanumeric characters, representing one or more pieces of data. Depending on the technology it may be inclusive of data element qualifiers e.g., GS1 element string, or may reference only the data element value e.g., GS1 identifier data element value or GS1 informative data element value. Strings may be historically referred to as numbers despite allowing non-numeric characters e.g., serial number, Global Model Number, purchase order number etc.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

sub-class level GS1 identifier
comment: An identifier of a subset of a class of entities that share class-level characteristics plus additional characteristics (e.g., all trade items, allocated the same GTIN but distinguished by batch/lot number).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

subject of care
comment: Any person who uses or is a potential user of a healthcare service, subjects of care may also be referred to as patients or healthcare consumers.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

substrate
comment: The material on which a barcode is printed or otherwise applied.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Supplemental symbol
comment: A GS1-128 barcode used in combination with EAN/UPC, ITF-14 or GS1-128 where additional information is required beyond the barcode that carries the GS1 key (main symbol).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

supplier
comment: The party that produces, provides, or furnishes an item or service.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

symbol character
comment: A group of bars and spaces in a symbol that is decoded as a single unit. It may represent an individual digit, letter, punctuation mark, control indicator, or multiple data characters (see also codeword).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

symbol check character
comment: A symbol character or set of bar/space patterns included within a GS1-128 or GS1 DataBar symbol, the value of which is used by the barcode reader for the purpose of performing a mathematical check to ensure the accuracy of the scanned data. It is not shown in human readable interpretation. It is not input to the barcode printer and is not transmitted by the barcode reader.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

symbol contrast
comment: A parameter in ISO/IEC 15415 and ISO/IEC 15416 that measures the difference between the largest and smallest reflectance values in a Scan Reflectance Profile (SRP).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Symbol Control Character
comment: Deprecated in favour of: symbology element
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

symbology
comment: A defined method of representing numeric or alphabetic characters in a barcode; a type of barcode.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

symbology identifier
comment: A sequence of characters generated by the decoder (and prefixed to the decoded data transmitted by the decoder) that identifies the symbology from which the data has been decoded.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Third Party Controlled, Serialised Extension of GTIN
alternative label: TPX
comment: A specific, compliant unit-level unique identifier (upUI) used for tobacco traceability per the EU regulation.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

EU tobacco regulation 2018/574

trade item
comment: Any item (product or service) upon which there is a need to retrieve predefined information and that may be priced, or ordered, or invoiced at any point in any supply chain.
example: product
example: service
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

trade item declarations
comment: The set of all information about a trade item (e.g., manufacturer warranty, ingredients, instructions for use, specifications, contents, certifications, predefined characteristics, and other information). For a trade item, this is all of the information that is on the label and in the original packaging. It also includes relevant aspects of the extended packaging.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

trade item grouping
comment: A predefined composition of trade item(s) that is not intended for point-of-sale scanning. It is identified with a GTIN-14, GTIN-13, or GTIN-12.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

trade measures
comment: Net measures of variable measure trade items as used for invoicing (billing) the trade item.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

transport process information
comment: A set of information relevant to the processing, delivery or return of a transport unit. For example, transport process information would include address details.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

transport unit
comment: A logistic unit within the context of transport processes.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

truncation
comment: Printing a symbol shorter than the symbology specification’s minimum height recommendations. Truncation can make the symbol difficult for an operator to scan.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

two-dimensional barcode symbology
alternative label: 2D
comment: Optically readable symbols that must be examined both vertically and horizontally to read the entire message. 2D barcodes may be one of two types: matrix symbols and multi-row symbols. 2D barcodes have error detection and may include error correction features.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

U.P.C. Company Prefix
comment: A GS1 Company Prefix starting with a zero (‘0’) becomes a U.P.C. Company Prefix by removing the leading zero. A U.P.C. Company Prefix is used to issue and allocate GTIN-12.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

U.P.C. Prefix
comment: A GS1 Prefix starting with a zero (‘0’) becomes a U.P.C. Prefix by removing the leading zero. A U.P.C. Prefix is used to issue U.P.C. Company Prefixes or allocated to other specific areas.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Unique Device Identifier – Device Identifier
alternative label: UDI-DI
comment: A unique identifier specific to a medical device trade item represented by a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Unique Device Identifier – Production Identifier
alternative label: UDI-PI
comment: A numeric or alphanumeric code that identifies the unit of device production. The different types of UDI-PIs include serial number, lot number, software identification and manufacturing or expiry date or both types of date.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Unique Device Identifier
alternative label: UDI
comment: A series of numeric or alphanumeric characters that is created through a globally accepted device identification and coding standard. It allows the unambiguous identification of a specific medical device on the market. The UDI is comprised of the UDI-DI and the UDI-PI. The word ‘Unique’ does not imply serialisation of individual production units.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Unique Identification Code
alternative label: UIC
comment: Identifier of an EU 2018/574 ID Issuer that begins with an ISO 15459 Issuing Agency Code.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

unit of measure
alternative label: UoM
comment: Refers to the standard measurement index being used (e.g., kilometres, metres, miles, inches, etc.).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

unit of use
alternative label: UoU
comment: Refers to an individual unit package that is prescribed for or administered to a patient regardless whether it is packaged individually or, on the contrary, the smallest package contains more than one unit. May coincide with the single unit and the base unit.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Unit of Use UDI-DI
alternative label: UoU UDI-DI
comment: Device identifier for the unit of use, meant to associate the use of a device with a patient. In cases where the unit of use coincides with another packaging level, that level’s device identifier functions as a UoU UDI-DI, otherwise a separate device identifier has to be allocated. For example, three clips (which do not carry a physical UDI marking themselves) are contained in a cartridge which is packaged inside a container, which does carry a labelled UDI.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

unit pack Unique Identifier
alternative label: upUI
comment: A unique, alphanumeric, code placed on tobacco product packaging to track and trace per the EU regulation.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

EU tobacco regulation 2018/574

UPC-A barcode
comment: A barcode of the EAN/UPC symbology that encodes GTIN-12 and RCN-12.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

UPC-E barcode
comment: A barcode of the EAN/UPC symbology representing a GTIN-12 in six explicitly encoded digits using zero-suppression.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

variable measure number
alternative label: VMN
comment: Deprecated in favour of: Restricted Circulation Number (RCN)
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

variable measure trade item
comment: A trade item which may be traded without a predefined measure, such as its weight or length.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

version control
comment: The management of different versions of the same entity.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

Version Control Number
alternative label: VCN
comment: A GS1 identification key attribute to facilitate version control, where differentiation is required for multiple occurrences of the same identification used on the same AIDC media type. For example, to ensure only the latest occurrence of access controlled AIDC media is valid upon scanning, where multiple occurrences could present risks (e.g., lost ID badge).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

virtual trade item assortment/bundle
comment: Combinations of multiple (same or different) trade items that are not physically combined into a single trade item, but that are presented in selling environments as offers of combinations of multiple trade items (e.g., products or services).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

VMN-12
comment: Deprecated in favour of: RCN-12
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

VMN-13
comment: Deprecated in favour of: RCN-13
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

warranty
comment: A guarantee or claim that a party makes.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

web-based information
comment: An approach to giving users access to additional information or services about trade items through their mobile device. It is the ability to retrieve additional information about the trade item through mobile devices or, in general, to link a trade item with trusted virtual information or services.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

wide-to-narrow ratio
comment: The ratio between the wide elements and the narrow elements in a barcode symbology such as ITF-14 that has two different element widths.
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications

X-dimension
comment: The specified width of the narrowest element of a barcode (see module).
date: 2026-05-28
source: GS1 General Specifications
is part of: two-dimensional barcode symbology