What is a GTIN?

A UPC number is a Universal Product Code often used interchangeably with GTIN or barcode. Let’s clarify the key distinction between each of them. In the GS1 system, there are data carriers and the data itself. In this example, the data carrier is the physical barcode because it contains and carries important data, like the GTIN, for scanners to read.

Here, we are showing the GS1 barcode type known as a UPC-A barcode. This barcode is a product or item number typically used in North America at retail point-of-sale (POS) or checkout. The data that the UPC-A barcode uses is called the GTIN-12. The name GTIN-12 is given because it is always made of 12 digits, which are unique to each of your products. Since the GTIN-12 is often encoded in a UPC-A barcode, the term barcode or UPC is sometimes used in place of GTIN-12. Barcodes from GS1 US provide an authentic way to uniquely identify your products and locations in the supply chain and e-commerce.

GTIN 12

A GTIN-12 is 12 digits in length. It is predominantly used in North America and is intended to be scanned at Point of Sale (POS). It is synonymous with UPC and is the only GTIN type that can be encoded in the UPC-A barcode.

GTIN 14

A GTIN-14 is always 14 digits in length. It never starts with a zero as the first digit. A GTIN-14 is used to identify trade item groupings (e.g., case of a product or set pack) and is NOT intended for POS use.

GTIN 8

A GTIN-8 is always eight digits in length. This is most often used outside North America and intended to be scanned at POS for small items only.

GTIN 13

How are Global Trade Item Numbers Used?

In retail, a GTIN can call up POS (price and retail category) information. Take a lemon soda, for example. The brand owner assigns and marks the soda with a GTIN. The brand owner then provides the GTIN and required attributes and information about the soda to the trading partner. The trading partner adds pricing information to the database. When you bring the soda to the cashier, the item is scanned and the system can access certain information in the retailer’s database, such as the price. The available units will be updated once the soda is subtracted from the inventory.