EAN2, EAN5 and EAN13 all are types of linear barcode used to encode information about a particular product at a checkout point. EAN stands for European Article number which is now known as international article number. In the following section, these barcodes have been explained individual followed by their collective usage.
EAN13
EAN 13 barcode symbology contains 13 digits. 12 digits are the data digits where as one digit is the check digit. EAN13 is particular used in encoding information about the items sold at point of sale system. The information which is stored using EAN13 is called product information number. All the codes encoded using UPC and EAN are commonly referred as GTIN (Global Trade Item Number).
EAN2
EAN2 is a two digit linear barcode like EAN13 which has 13 digits. The most basic use of EAN2 is that it is commonly appended at the right of EAN13 in order to store additional information about a product sold at point of sale systems. Another major use of EAN2 is that it is often used on periodicals, magazines and books. In periodicals, EAN2 is used to distinguish the periodical in terms of week or month. One digit may represent the week and the other represents month. This is repeated on yearly basis. However if you want to completely distinguish between periodicals on the basis of years as well, you can use another EAN symbology as described below.
EAN2
EAN5
EAN5 is another linear barcode belonging to EAN barcode family. It contains 5 digits and it is also appended at the end of EAN13 barcode in order to encode detailed information about the book or the periodical including detailed date and author information. It is also used at point of sales system in order to encode information about the products being sold.
EAN5
Advantages
· EAN barcodes encodes only numeric digits which makes encoding and decoding algorithm simple and no lengthy user training is required to understand it.
· EAN barcodes are linear barcode and they can be easily encoded and decoded like most of the linear barcode.
· Automatic check digit provides security.
· EAN barcodes can be encoded and decoded by any average scanning barcode and no advanced barcode scanning device is required for this purpose.
Limitations
· Low data density; Similar to other linear barcodes, in order to store large data the width of the barcode has to be increased.
· Although encoding numeric only data brings simplicity yet it is not suitable if one wants to encode alphabets and special characters.
· The ability to tolerate damage is limited in EAN barcodes like other linear barcodes and barcode, once distorted or damage can be successfully decoded.
EAN2, EAN5 and EAN13 Collective Usage
As aforementioned, EAN2, EAN5 and EAN13 are collectively used for storing information about the books, and journals. Apart from them, they are used at checkouts and point of sale systems.