A wireless network used for home, building and industrial control. Designed for low power drain, it is slower than Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

There are no terms begiging with the letter Y.

The width of the narrow bars and spaces in a bar code type; usually measured in mils.

An OS/400 program that serves as a link between an output queue and a printer. Normally the writer is started automatically at OS/400 IPL time.

Distance from which data on an RFID tag can be written or changed.

Write Once Read Many. A tag that a user can write to just once.

Work-In-Progress/Process. An application using bar code totes and bar code scanners to track lots through a manufacturing operation.

A compliance marking term. Warehouse Information Network Standard. Defines EDI transaction types for the warehouse industries.

A device that plugs in between a keyboard and a terminal or PC. Allows data to be entered either by the keyboard or an attached scanner.

See Light pen.

Wal-Mart made RFID front page news in 2003 when it issued a mandate requiring its top 100 suppliers to attach RFID tags positively identifying all cases and pallets by Jan. 1, 2005 . Wal-Mart has since relaxed its requirements allowing suppliers more time. But industry experts think eventually such tagging will become mandatory with suppliers to all major retailers.

Used in some hand laser scanners to project a beam of light visible to the human eye, simplifying the scanning process.

A bar code field printed in a rotation perpendicular to the horizon so that the individual bars appear as rungs on a ladder.

A device that makes measurements of the bars, spaces, quiet zones and optical characteristics of a bar code field to determine if the code meets the requirements of a specification or standard.

A compliance marking term. Uniform Product Carton Code, a standard administered by the UCC.

A UPC symbol encoding six digits of data in an arrangement that occupies less area than a UPC-A symbol. The UPC-E bar code type is a shortened version of the UPC-A bar code type in which zeroes are suppressed, resulting in codes that require less printing space. Used for labeling small items.

A fixed length, numeric, continuous bar code type used primarily in the retail industry for labeling packages. The UPC-A symbol encodes a number system character, 10 digits of data, and a Mod 10 check digit for error correction.

Universal Product Code. The standard bar code type for retail products in the United States . See also UPC-A and UPC-E.

Unique Item Identifier, a value in the Item Unique Identification system used by the US Department of Defense for the identification of accountable equipment as per DoD Instruction 5000.64.

Ultra High Frequency: transmitting between 300 MHz and 3 GHz. Typically UHF RFID tags operate in a region between 860 MHz to 960MHz. At present, there is no universally approved global frequency for UHF RFID use.

A printing method like thermal direct except a onetime ribbon is used and common paper is used as a supply. This eliminates the problems of fading or changing color inherent in thermal direct printing.

A printing method where dots are selectively heated and cooled and dragged upon heat-sensitive paper. The paper turns dark in the heated areas.

Timeand Attendance. An application using bar code employee badges and bar code slot reading terminals to enter employee start/stop data.

Microchip attached to an antenna, enclosed in label or other "package" so it can be applied to an object.

Transmission of data which does not use special control bits, but requires a master clock signal for coordination between the devices. The clock may be a separate signal, or it may be part of the data.

Bar code type.

The distance between the outside edges of the quiet zones on the two ends of a bar code field.

A combination of bar code characters, including start/stop characters, quiet zones, data characters, and check characters required by a particular symbology, which form a complete, scannable entity.

See substrate.

The surface on which a bar code field is printed. Can be a label, tag, or paper supply.

Component of a tag connecting the chip to the antenna.

A special bar code character that provides the scanner with start and stop reading instructions as well as scanning direction indicator.

A compliance marking term. A set of rules, specifications, instructions and directions to use a bar code or other automatic identification system. Usually issued by a trade organization.

An optional electromechanical accessory that is invaluable for unattended, organized, printing and cutting of multiple batches of tags.

Maxicode, 16K and Code 49 are examples where a long bar code field is broken into sections and "stacked" one upon the other, resulting in codes that are extremely compact.

A bar code verification term. The variation in sensitivity of a test surface to light of different wavelengths.

A bar code verification term. The thickness of a space measured from the edge closest to the symbol start character to the trailing edge of the same space.

System Network Architecture. Enterprise communications standard developed by IBM.

The process of applying an RFID label to a case or pallet just before it leaves a supplier's facility. Often used by companies for basic compliance with companies to require shipments with RFID tags.

Stock Keeping Units. In a distribution/retail environment, a generic term for item number.

A bar code verification term. Generally undesirable property of a supply that permits underlying markings to be seen.

A bar code verification term. Substitution error rate. The rate of occurrence of incorrect characters.

Another name for a battery-assisted tag. Uses battery to run circuitry but does not broadcast its own signal.

Another name for a battery-assisted tag.

Synchronous data link control. Protocol supported by the IBM System i for communicating with other IBM System i (iSeries, AS/400), mainframe, System/36, and System/38 systems.

An electro/optical device that converts the bars and spaces of a bar code field into electrical signals.

Scale printer can print thermal tickets or thermal labels as industrial pre-packing application.

Distributed middleware designed by the Auto-ID Center to filter data from EPC readers and pass it on to enterprise systems.

wo way wireless protocol that uses Long Wave (LW) magnetic signals to send and receive data packets in a local regional network. Similar to WiFi and Bluetooth, but RuBee uses a lower frequency, slower carrier. RuBee, however offers low power consumption and operates near steel and water, making it practical for sensors, controls, or actuators and indicators.

A common communication interface standard that permits DTEs and DCEs to connect successfully.
RTLS (Real Time Location System)
Also called Real Time Locating Systems, RTLS tracks and identifies the location of objects in real time using badges or tags attached to or embedded in objects. 

Pilots that indicate a good return on investment (ROI) are then put into expanded deployment. This benefits the testing company and the RFID industry as a whole.

A plastic tape with several layers of material, one of which is thermal wax, that when melted, produces the visible marks on the labels installed on a thermal transfer printer.

Test for new RFID solutions. Pilots might be run by companies to help meet mandate requirements or to test new applications of RFID technologies.

Radio Frequency Identification. A method of uniquely identifying items by transmitting and receiving electromagnetic (radio) waves.

A technology that connects devices using electromagnetic waves instead of physical cabling.

The narrowest element dimension which can be recognized by a particular scanning device or printed with a particular device or method.

A bar code verification term. The ratio of the amount of light which is reflected back from the white spaces of a bar code during scanning to the amount of light reflected under similar illumination conditions.

Hardware that communicates with RFID tags. A reader has one or more antennas attached to it which emit radio waves and receive signals back from the tags. Many readers have the ability to write data as well as read data. See Interrogator.

Tags that can store and use new information. Can be changed many times by a reader.

Data stored in read-only RFID tags cannot be changed by a reader.

Bar codes: A bar code verification term. The ratio of the number of successful reads to the total number of attempts.
RFID: Indicates the number of tags that can be read within a given length of time. Read rate is also used as the maximum rate at which data can be read from a tag.

Distance from which a reader can communicate with a tag. Factors that affect the read range of a passive tag include frequency, reader power and antenna design.

Quick Response. A retail industry initiative to improve inventory turnaround through the use of EDI, bar code scanning, and the sharing of merchandise movement data with vendors.

A clear space, containing no machine readable marks, which precedes the start character of a bar code field and follows the stop characters. Sometimes called the "clear area."

A label printing software application written by Godex that is provided for use with Godex printers.

A bar code verification term. The measure of compliance of a bar code symbol to the requirements of dimensional tolerance, edge roughness, spots, voids, reflectance, PCS, quiet zone, and encodation.

A bar code symbology used primarily by the U.S. Postal Service for mail sortation. All bars and spaces are the same width. ZIP Code information is encoded into the particular arrangement of tall and short bars.

A door or other point in a facility surrounded by fixed RFID readers to identify and track the flow of product. Dock doors are a typical example.

Price Look-Up. In a retail POS (Point Of Sale) system, the UPC bar code field is a key field in a price file that when scanned, retrieves a price for the encoded item.

A bar code type whose length is printed horizontally so that the bars are presented in an array which looks like a picket fence.

Portable Data File 417 is a two-dimensional bar code developed by Symbol Technologies, Inc. It is the most widely used 2D bar code (more than one row of codes) and it can hold up to 1,800 bytes of any digital data in an area the size of a business card.

ZSoft Paintbrush bitmap graphics file format.

A bar code verification term. Print contrast signal. A measurement of the ratio of the reflectivity between the bars and spaces of a bar code field, commonly expressed in percent.

An RFID that does not have its own transmitter and power source. The energy required to run the tag's circuitry is obtained from the radio waves emanated by the reader.

The bars and spaces representing the start, stop, function codes and check characters required by some symbologies. These increase the length of the bar code but do not affect the message content.

Two possible bar code field orientations are horizontal with vertical bars and spaces (picket fence) and vertical with horizontal bars and spaces (ladder).

Added memory available on a tag that can be used by any member along the supply chain. Can be used for routing information or other applications to increase tracking efficiency.

The minimum distance a bar code can be away from a scanner and still be read.

A bar code verification term. 1).The optical property of a substrate material that measures the show through from the back side or the next sheet. 2).The ratio of the reflectance with a black backing to the reflectance with a white backing. 3).Ink opacity is the property of an ink that prevents the substrate from showing through.

A printing mode where one label at a time is printed. The label is presented to the operator, separated from the backing paper. When the label is taken from the printer, the next label is printed and presented. Also known as Demand mode.

Open Database Connectivity.

Optical Character Recognition. Technology for machine reading of human readable text.

A bar code verification term. The exact (or ideal) intended value for a specified parameter. Tolerances are specified as positive and negative deviations from this value.

NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology),  is a non-regulatory federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce.

A bar code verification term. The net data density of a linear bar code symbol is determined by dividing the number of characters in the symbol by the overall symbol length, measured from the leading edge of the start code to the trailing edge.

A bar code verification term. Unit of measure used to define the wavelength of light.

MSI barcode with a single modulo 10 check digit.

A device where scanning is achieved by mechanically moving a light beam through the bars of a bar code field.

A range of techniques for encoding and transmitting information on a carrier signal. Types of modulation include frequency modulation, amplitude modulation and phase modulation.

The width of the narrow bars in a bar code.

A condition which occurs when the data output of a reader/decoder does not agree with the data encoded in the bar code field.

One one-thousandth of an inch (0.001"). Unit of measurement used in bar code specifications.

Software that sits between the reader and enterprise applications. Generally resides on a server. Middleware performs operations like filtering and smoothing of the raw RFID data. It can also manage networked readers.

High frequency wave. Microwave RFID tags typically operate at a frequency of 2.45GHz.

A machine readable symbol system UPS. Used for tracking and managing the shipment of packages. A MaxiCode resembles a barcode, but uses dots arranged in a hexagonal grid instead of bars. Because of its unique design, MaxiCode is often called "Bird's Eye" or "Target." The bull's eye at the center allows MaxiCode symbols to be scanned and read regardless of orientation, even on a package traveling rapidly.

Strip of magnetic recording material on a card that contains data which can be read to identify the holder and or the associated account.

RFID over the 125Kz band. Usually used by small, inexpensive products with short read ranges (12 inches or less). Typical uses are security access cards quick payment applications.

A compliance marking term. Logistics of Marking and Reading symbols. A Department of Defense marking specification.

Also known as a wand. A scanning device which is used as a hand held bar code reader. Requires direct contact with the printed bar code field.

Low frequency. RFID tags designed for the LF range generally operate at 125 kHz or 134 kHz.

Light-emitting diode. The light source often used in light pens.

Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A focused light source (as opposed to LEDs used in wands and CCD readers) used in fixed, moving beam, and handheld scanners.

A bar code field printed in a rotation perpendicular to the horizon so that the individual bars appear as rungs on a ladder. Also referred to as a vertical bar code.

The space between adjacent labels on continuous form, die cut supply.

Label dispenser helps peel the label away from its liner manually.

There are no terms begiging with the letter J.

Tagging of individual items, as opposed to tagging cases or pallets.

International Organization for Standardization. International organization of 146 countries setting individual national standards institutes.

RFID reader with some processing, filtering and command execution ability, similar to that of a PC.

Another name for a reader because it "interrogates" the tag for data.

A high density, self-checking, continuous numeric bar code type in which each character is composed of five elements: five bars or five spaces. Of the five elements, two are wide and three are narrow. The bar code is formed by interleaving characters formed with all spaces into characters formed with all bars. Total number of digits must be even.

The band of light wavelengths too long to be seen by the human eye. Used in access control and security applications where bar code fields must not be visible by human eye -- only to an infrared scanner.

Infrared laser diode. Used in some hand laser scanners to project a light beam.

Tag that has a small internal power supply, is triggered by a reader. After interrogation, the tag goes back to being passive.

A bar code type presented in such a manner that its overall length dimension is parallel to the horizon. The bars are presented in an array which looks like a picket fence.

The Health Industry Bar Code (HIBC) Standard, it is a barcode that use for unique identification of medical products.

High Frequency radio waves, from 3 MHz to 30 MHz. RFID tags designed for the HF range typically operate at 13.56MHz.

A helium neon laser commonly used in bar code scanners.

GoDEX Zebra® Printer Language

The bars that are at both ends and center of a UPC and EAN bar code type. They provide reference points for reading, serving a function similar to start/stop codes.

Global Positioning System. Satellite navigation system used for determining the user's precise location and providing an accurate time reference worldwide.

Established in 1993, with its headquarters in Taipei Taiwan, GoDEX International is an engineering company that specializes in designing and manufacturing barcode printing products that lead the industry in the value price, high performance category. GoDEX has offices in the US, Europe and China and its products are distributed world-wide.

Developed by Global Standard One (GS1), an organization for developing international commerce standards. The code is used to store and retrieve product information in a global database.

GoDEX Eltron® Printer Language

Shorthand for EPC Class 1 Generation 2. The standard ratified by EPCglobal for the air interface protocol for the latest (second generation) EPC technologies. (See EPC.)

Function (FNC) codes define instructions for a bar code reader decoding Code 128 bar codes. FNC 1, for example, is a required component of the UCC-128 specification. FNC 2 tells the reader to store the data read and transmit it with the next symbol. FNC 3 is reserved for code reader initializing and other reader functions. FNC 4 is reserved for future use.

First Read Rate. 
See First Read Rate.

Essentially the material, format and shape of the RFID tag. Form factors include adhesive labels, plastic cards and key fobs.

A visible light or laser scanner that requires a more exact positioning of a bar code than a moving beam scanner.

A bar code verification term. The ratio of the number of successful reads to the number of attempts. Commonly expressed as a percentage. Abbreviated as FRR.

Computer programming instructions stored permanently in read-only memory. Most Bar Code and RFID readers can be updated to accommodate new protocols by changing the firmware.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC), an independent U.S. government agency. It  is charged with regulating interstate and international communications.

Federation of Automated Coding Technologies. Because of the large number of groups that have been independently developing bar code standards, FACT was formed to foster interindustry communications and coordination. An "association of associations," FACT maintains a database of specifications and data identifiers.

The EZPL (EZ Programming Language) is a high-level programming language developed by Godex for their barcode printers.
Features of EZPL are as follows:
1. The data are stored to be processed and will not be printed out until the last printing instruction is received.
2. All the printing contents can be rotated.
3. Images can be downloaded and stored.

EPC (Electronic Product Code) is a unique code that can be used in the supply chain to identify a specific single items. EPC stored in radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. Once the EPC has been captured from the tags, it Will be able to link with the dynamic data (such as food items the original source or their production date, etc.)

EAN-13 barcode (originally European Article Number) is a barcoding standard which is a superset of the original 12-digit Universal Product Code (UPC) system developed in the United States.

EAN-8 is a subset of EAN-13 and a superset of UPC.

European Article Numbering system. The international standard bar code for retail food packages. The EAN-13 bar code type has 12 data characters, one more data character than the UPC-A code. An EAN-13 symbol contains the same number of bars as the UPC-A but encodes a 13th digit into a parity pattern of the left-hand six digits. This 13th digit, in combination with the 12th digit, represents a country code. 

The maximum time for which an RFID reader can emit energy. For example, a ten per cent duty cycle means a reader is restricted to transmitting six minutes per hour.

An RFID reader with that passes data on to other systems or smart readers but cannot itself filter data, execute commands and perform other functions. Compare with an intelligent reader.

A special version of Interleaved 2 of 5. It always has a fixied length of 14 digits and is used for outer case coding.

A bidirectional tag with two antennas, making it less sensitive to orientation, thereby increasing read capability.

Data Terminal Equipment. Hardware interface standard for display stations, personal computers, printers and other non-communications equipment. To interface a DTE printer with a DTE device such as a PC or a display station, a null-modem serial cable is required. See also DCE.

Direct Store Delivery. When goods are shipped directly to a store, the container marking specifications are usually different from those required when shipping to a distribution center.

Dots Per Inch. Used in comparing relative printing resolution of thermal printheads and laser print engines.

Direct Part Marking. A technology used to produce two different surface conditions on an item, effectively creating a bar code by laser etching, molding, etc. DPM is required by the DoD for certain parts and assemblies.

A system of impact printing where individual dots are printed by tiny wires striking the supply through an inked ribbon.

The United States Department of Defense. The DoD mandates RFID tags on certain supplies for tracking and security.

A printing method where dots are selectively heated and cooled and dragged upon heat-sensitive paper. The paper turns dark in the heated areas.

A bar code verification term. The component of reflected light that emanates in all directions from the reflecting surface (as opposed to the focused light of the scanner laser reflected back to the scanner).

Type of label supply used in on demand applications. See also butt cut.

A compliance marking term. See Data Identifier.

The distance between the maximum and minimum surface in which a scanner is capable of reading bar codes of a specified X dimension.

As part of a bar code reading system, the electronics that process the signals from the scanner, interpret the signals into meaningful data, and control the interface to other devices.

Data Communications Equipment. Hardware interface standard for modems, protocol converters, and other communications equipment. To interface DCE devices with DTE (Data Terminal Equipment) devices such as terminals or PCs, a straight through serial cable is required. See also DTE.

Distribution Center . When goods are shipped to a distribution center, the container marking specifications are usually different from those required when shipping directly to a store.

Two-dimensional matrix bar code consisting of black and white squares arranged in a square or rectangular pattern. The information to be encoded can be text or raw data. Error correction added to increase symbol strength allow the codes to be read even if they are partially damaged.

A compliance marking term. Message prefixes in a bar code that define the general category or intended use of the data that follows.

Also called a knife. An integrated mechanism used to cut individual tickets from a roll of tag supply.

Characters Per Inch. A common measurement for bar code density.

Factory automation term where information is shared between computer aided design programs, materials resource planning (MRP) programs, and machine tools on the shop floor. Bar code data collection is an important part of a successful CIM implementation.

Vertical market applications for RFID that never leave the company's control. Used for internal RFID applications such as security ID or tracking assets. Open standards are less of an issue under closed-loop systems. Closed loop RFID is effectively used for internal tracking and management of assets and can often bring a quick ROI.

Interference between more than one tag or reader.

 A high density, variable length, full alphanumeric bar code type capable of encoding all 128 ASCII characters. It was designed for complex encoded product identification and is the basis of the UCC-128 marking specification. Code 128 has three subsets of characters. There are 106 printing characters in each set. Therefore, each character can have three different meanings, depending on the character subset used. Each 

An extremely compact, multi-row, continuous variable bar code type capable of encoding the full 128 ASCII character set. It is ideally suited to applications where large amounts of data are required in a small space. The code consists of 2 to 8 rows. A row consists of a leading quiet zone, 4 symbol characters encoding 8 code characters, a stop pattern, and a trailing quiet zone. Rows are separated by a one module high separator bar. Each symbol character encodes two characters.

A full alphanumeric bar code type composed of five bars, four spaces, and an intercharacter gap for each character. Code 39 is the standard for many industries, including adoption by the U.S. Department of Defense for its LOGMARS specification. Also known as USD-3 code and 3 of 9 code, it is one of three symbologies identified in the ANSI standard MH10.8M-1983.

A numeric-only bar code type, in which each character is composed of seven elements four bars and three spaces. CODABAR is currently used in a variety of applications such as libraries, medicine, and overnight package delivery. Also known as USD-4 code, NW-7, and 2 of 7 code, it was originally developed for retail price-labeling use.

A clear space, containing no machine readable marks, which precedes the start character of a bar code field and follows the stop characters. Sometimes called the "clear area."

One-time programmable (OTP) tags that can be updated one additional time after being encoded. Class 1 tags have a 96-bit memory capacity and operate between 868 and 930 MHz.

Read-only tags (programmed only once) with 64-bit or 96-bit memory capacities. Class 0 tags operate in the UHF between 868 and 930 MHz. Class 0+ tags are rewritable.

Characters available for encodation in a particular bar code type. Not all bar code types can encode the entire ASCII character set.

Charge Coupled Device. Type of bar code scanner that uses LEDs (not lasers) to flood the bar code with light.

Form of bar code label stock used in continuous operations. Butt cut stock usually yields an additional 10% more individual labels than die cut stock.

Microsoft Windows bitmap graphics file format.

Industrial specification for wireless personal area networks. Connects devices such as mobile phones, laptops, PCs, printers, digital cameras, and video game consoles over a secure, globally unlicensed short-range radio frequency. Developed and licensed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group.

Sensor mark usually printed on the reverse (non-printing) side of tag stock, or on the liner (backing paper) of label stock.

Binary Synchronous Communication. Protocol supported by the IBM System i for communicating with other System i (iSeries, AS/400), IBM mainframe, System/36, and System/38 systems.

A bar code symbol capable of being read successfully if scanned in either direction.

"Semi-passive" RFID tags with an onboard power source to run the circuitry, but which communicate with a reader using the same backscatter technique as passive tags.

The thickness of an individual bar measured from edge to edge of the same bar.

A single group of bars and spaces that represents a specific individual number, letter, punctuation mark, or other symbol. This is the smallest subset of a bar code symbol that contains data.

The darker element of a printed bar code field.

A method of communication used by passive RFID tags and readers, where the tag reflects back radio waves generated by a reader.

The white spaces and quiet zones surrounding a printed bar code.

A technology that uses white spaces and black bars to represent encoded information. This encoded information can then be read with an optical device that converts the bars and spaces into an electrical signal, which is then 

Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) refers to the methods of automatically identifying objects, collecting data about them, and entering that data directly into computer systems (i.e. without human involvement). Technologies typically considered as part of AIDC include bar codes, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), biometrics, magnetic stripes, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), smart cards, and voice recognition. AIDC is also commonly referred to as “Automatic Identification,” “Auto-ID,” and "Automatic Data Capture."

AIDC is the process or means of obtaining external data, particularly through analysis of images, sounds or videos. To capture data, a transducer is employed which converts the actual image or a sound into a digital file. The file is then stored and at a later time it can be analyzed by a computer, or compared with other files in a database to verify identity or to provide authorization to enter a secured system. Capturing of data can be done in various ways; the best method depends on application.

A bar code verification term. Expressed as a percent. See Reflectance.

Automatic Identification. Various methods that allow machines to identify objects independent of human intervention. Auto-ID technologies include bar codes, voice recognition, retina scans and RFID.

The ability of bar code scanning and decoding equipment to recognize more than one symbology.

Also referred to as start/stop transmission. Every character transmitted has special bits attached, telling the receiving device when the data begins and ends. Data is transmitted independently with no associated clock. See also Synchronous communication.

A bar code verification term. In a bar code symbol, the ratio of bar code symbol height to symbol length.

A font that uses two bytes to represent each character (Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Japanese and Korean etc.)

Applicator is an accessory designed to automate the label printing and application process. The labels are applied with a tamp pad by means of a pneumatic cylinder that moves between the starting position and the labeling position.

Term for methods to prevent radio waves from multiple devices interfering with each other.
Anti-collision methods provide for a reader to read multiple RFID tags nearly simultaneously.

A conductive element in an RFID reader or tag that enables the sending and receiving of data.

The rules that control how RFID readers and tags communicate.

An RFID tag with a transmitter that sends data to a reader, rather than reflecting back a signal. Most active tags have their own power source, normally a battery.

The amount of data that can be stored on an RFID tag's chip. For passive tags, this typically ranges from 64 bits to a few kilobytes. Active tags can generally accommodate more memory than passive tags.

Requirements imposed by major client organizations such as Wal-Mart, the United States Department of Defense for vendors to place RFID tags on all shipments to improve supply chain management. The size and power of these organizations mandating RFID had an impact on suppliers worldwide. The original Wal-Mart Mandate required its top 600 suppliers to ship all products with Gen 2 RFID tags identifying each pallet and was supposed to extend to 1,400 stores by the end of 2007. However, the logistics of implementation for vendors have forced RFID deadlines to be continued. As the technologies become more user-friendly and less expensive, most companies will likely use RFID tags on their shipments. (See Wal-Mart Mandate)

A line of code within the RFID tag that gets activated once and then permanently disables the tag. Limits tracking of purchased items for privacy protection.

2D barcode (also matrix code), is a two-dimensional way of representing information. It is similar to linear barcode but has more data representation capability.

1D barcode (also bar code) also called liner barcode. It is a one-dimensional barcode symbol.