This scanner supports UPC-A (12 digits), UPC-E (8 digits, compressed), EAN-8 (8 digits), and EAN-13 (13 digits). These are the most common 1D barcode formats found on retail products worldwide. The tool also recognizes CODE-128 and CODE-39 barcodes commonly used in logistics and inventory.

UPC (Universal Product Code) is primarily used in the United States and Canada. UPC-A has 12 digits. EAN (European Article Number, now International Article Number) is used globally — EAN-13 has 13 digits. A UPC-A can be converted to EAN-13 by adding a leading "0". Both formats encode the same type of product identification data and use the same check digit algorithm.

Camera access requires HTTPS (secure connection) and your explicit permission. Common fixes: (1) Ensure you're on an HTTPS website. (2) Check browser permissions — look for a camera icon in the address bar and allow access. (3) On mobile, ensure you've granted camera permission in your device settings. (4) Close other apps that might be using the camera. (5) Try using the "Upload Image" button as an alternative if camera access is unavailable.

For best results: (1) Hold the barcode steady and ensure it's well-lit — avoid shadows. (2) Position the barcode within the scanning frame overlay on screen. (3) Keep the camera about 4–8 inches (10–20 cm) away from the barcode. (4) Avoid glare or reflections on the barcode surface. (5) Ensure the barcode isn't damaged, wrinkled, or partially covered. (6) If scanning fails repeatedly, try the image upload option with a clear photo.

100% private and secure. All barcode scanning happens entirely within your browser using client-side JavaScript. No images, video streams, or scan results are ever uploaded to any server. Your camera feed never leaves your device. Scan history is stored only in your browser's localStorage and can be cleared anytime with the "Clear All" button. We do not use cookies, trackers, or analytics for the scanning functionality.

Absolutely! This tool is fully responsive and works great on both iOS (Safari) and Android (Chrome) devices. On mobile, the rear camera is automatically selected for easier barcode scanning. For best results, use your phone in landscape orientation when scanning wide barcodes. The flashlight/torch button helps in low-light environments.

UPC and EAN barcodes include a check digit (the last digit) that verifies the barcode was scanned correctly. The algorithm: starting from the rightmost digit (excluding the check digit), multiply odd-positioned digits by 3 and even-positioned digits by 1, sum all results, then calculate (10 - (sum mod 10)) mod 10. If this equals the check digit, the barcode is valid. Our tool automatically verifies this for every scan and displays the validation status.

Yes! Once the page is loaded, the barcode scanning library runs entirely on your device. No internet connection is required for scanning — the camera processing and barcode decoding happen locally. However, the "Lookup" feature (searching a barcode online) does require an internet connection as it opens a search engine query.