Editing Barcode (section)

==Barcode system==
A barcode system is a network of hardware and software, consisting primarily of [[mobile computers]], [[Printer (computing)|printers]], [[Barcode reader|handheld scanners]], infrastructure, and supporting software. Barcode systems are used to automate data collection where hand recording is neither timely nor cost effective. Despite often being provided by the same company, Barcoding systems are not [[radio-frequency identification]] (RFID) systems. Many companies use both technologies as part of larger [[resource management]] systems.

A typical barcode system consist of some infrastructure, either wired or wireless that connects some number of mobile computers, handheld scanners, and printers to one or many databases that store and analyze the data collected by the system. At some level there must be some software to manage the system. The software may be as simple as code that manages the connection between the hardware and the database or as complex as an [[Enterprise resource planning|ERP]], [[Material requirements planning|MRP]], or some other [[Field inventory management|inventory management]] software.

=== Hardware ===
A wide range of hardware is manufactured for use in barcode systems by such manufacturers as Datalogic, Intermec, HHP (Hand Held Products), [[Microscan Systems]], Unitech, Metrologic, PSC, and PANMOBIL, with the best known brand of handheld scanners and mobile computers being produced by  [[Symbol Technologies|Symbol]],{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} a division of [[Motorola]].

=== Software ===
Some ERP, MRP, and other [[inventory management software]] have built in support for barcode reading. Alternatively, custom interfaces can be created using a language such as [[C++]], [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]], [[Java (programming language)|Java]], [[Visual Basic.NET]], and many others. In addition, software development kits are produced to aid the process.