: a code consisting of a group of printed and variously patterned bars and spaces and sometimes numerals that is designed to be scanned and read into computer memory and that contains information (such as identification) about the object it labels
… one version of the barcode reader used in supermarkets employs a laser scanner.Science
I on the other hand boarded the traditional way. I handed my paper printout to the airport personnel, who scanned the barcode before letting me proceed. Sanjeeb Patel
2
biology: something (such as a DNA sequence) that uniquely identifies a species of organism
… they now plan to analyze each fish sample by decoding a certain tiny piece of DNA that can serve as a unique bar code for the species. Christen Brownlee
Recent Examples on the WebOnce activated, the tag uses e-paper technology to display the guest's flight information and a bar code on its small screen. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 July 2022 Present Pride ticket or bar code to ride UTA bus, TRAX or FrontRunner free on Saturday and Sunday. Sean P. Means, The Salt Lake Tribune, 29 May 2022 Remove any bar code stickers or checked luggage tags from previous trips.New York Times, 9 July 2022 Each and every item was given a bar code of its very own, everything was kept track of. Souvankham Thammavongsa, The New Yorker, 6 June 2022 Park researchers have invented AstroTurf, cancer-fighting drugs, the bar code and technology that aided in the development of cellphones. Bryan Mena, WSJ, 22 Apr. 2022 The bar code is conceived when 27-year-old Norman Joseph Woodland draws four lines in the sand on a Miami beach. Gil Press, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2022 In a typical scenario, scammers post a notice—often posing as a business or other organization that people recognize and trust—that includes a quick-response code, a type of matrix bar code that stores information. Heidi Mitchell, WSJ, 19 Mar. 2022 Moreover, each mail-in envelope has a unique bar code that identifies the voter whose ballot is inside.The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 Feb. 2022 See More