EAN 13

EAN-13

EAN-13 is an extension of the UPC-A barcode symbology that usually carries a GTIN-13. It was designed by the International Article Numbering Association in 1976 for identification of retail goods at point of sale outside of the US.

Also known as: EAN, European Article Number, International Article Number, JAN, JAN-13, IAN, WPC, SAAN, UCCET, ABAC, BCCI, ICA, MANA, KANC, ANA, ANC.

Misnomers: UCC-13, GTIN-13

Variants:

• EAN-13+2 is an extension of EAN-13 that includes a two-digit add-on.
• EAN-13+5 is an extension of EAN-13 that includes a five-digit add-on.
• EAN-99 is a special form of EAN-13 starting with 99 that is used as an in-store coupon.
• EAN-8 is a barcode symbology derived from EAN-13 that is designed for small packaging. It uses a distinct numbering system based on GTIN-8.
• ISBN is a variant of EAN-13 used to identify books.
• ISMN is a variant of EAN-13 used to identify printed music.
• ISSN is a variant of EAN-13 used to identify periodicals.
• EAN-13 Composite is a variant of EAN-13 that should be used when a CC-A or CC-B GS1 Composite 2D component is required.

Standards: ISO/IEC 15420, BS EN 797, GS1 General Specifications.

Data and Options

• The data field for a EAN-13 may contain twelve or thirteen digits, optionally followed by a space then two or five digits if an EAN-2 or EAN-5 add-on is required.
• If twelve digits of primary data are supplied then the check digit is calculated automatically. Otherwise the provided check digit will be verified.
• The includetext option should normally be supplied.
• The guardwhitespace option enables the display of whitespace guard marks.

Examples

Identical symbols, input provided with and without a check digit:

Data:    9520123456788
Options: includetext guardwhitespace
Encoder: ean13

Data:    952012345678
Options: includetext guardwhitespace
Encoder: ean13

A symbol that includes a five-digit add-on:

Data:    952012345678 54499
Options: includetext guardwhitespace
Encoder: ean13