# GS1 Glossary — Learn — Closient

A glossary of key GS1 terms and definitions including GTIN, GLN, EPCIS, Digital Link, Data Matrix, and more.

# GS1 Glossary

Key terms and definitions used across GS1 standards for product identification, barcodes, and supply chain visibility.

## Identifiers

<dl class="row mb-5">
  <dt class="col-sm-3 col-lg-2">GTIN</dt>
  <dd class="col-sm-9 col-lg-10 mb-3">
    <strong>Global Trade Item Number</strong>.
    A unique numeric identifier for a product (product or service). GTINs come in several formats — GTIN-8, GTIN-12 (UPC), GTIN-13 (EAN), and GTIN-14 — and are the foundation of product identification in the GS1 system.
  </dd>

  <dt class="col-sm-3 col-lg-2">GLN</dt>
  <dd class="col-sm-9 col-lg-10 mb-3">
    <strong>Global Location Number</strong>.
    A 13-digit identifier for a physical location, legal entity, or functional unit within a business. Used to identify warehouses, stores, and trading partners in supply chain transactions.
  </dd>

  <dt class="col-sm-3 col-lg-2">SGTIN</dt>
  <dd class="col-sm-9 col-lg-10 mb-3">
    <strong>Serialized Global Trade Item Number</strong>.
    A GTIN combined with a serial number (AI 21) to uniquely identify an individual instance of a product, rather than just the product class. Essential for traceability and authentication.
  </dd>

  <dt class="col-sm-3 col-lg-2">SSCC</dt>
  <dd class="col-sm-9 col-lg-10 mb-3">
    <strong>Serial Shipping Container Code</strong>.
    An 18-digit identifier for logistics units such as pallets, cases, or parcels. The SSCC enables tracking of shipments through the supply chain from dispatch to delivery.
  </dd>

  <dt class="col-sm-3 col-lg-2">AI</dt>
  <dd class="col-sm-9 col-lg-10 mb-3">
    <strong>Application Identifier</strong>.
    A numeric prefix in a GS1 barcode that defines the meaning and format of the data that follows. For example, AI (01) indicates a GTIN, AI (10) a batch/lot number, and AI (21) a serial number.
  </dd>
</dl>

## Barcode Formats

<dl class="row mb-5">
  <dt class="col-sm-3 col-lg-2">GS1-128</dt>
  <dd class="col-sm-9 col-lg-10 mb-3">
    A linear (1D) barcode format that uses Application Identifiers to encode structured supply chain data such as GTINs, batch numbers, expiry dates, and serial numbers. Widely used in logistics and healthcare.
  </dd>

  <dt class="col-sm-3 col-lg-2">Data Matrix</dt>
  <dd class="col-sm-9 col-lg-10 mb-3">
    A 2D barcode symbology that stores data in a square or rectangular grid of black and white cells. Commonly used in healthcare, electronics, and industrial applications where space is limited. Supports GS1 Digital Link encoding.
  </dd>

  <dt class="col-sm-3 col-lg-2">QR Code</dt>
  <dd class="col-sm-9 col-lg-10 mb-3">
    A 2D barcode that can encode URLs, text, and other data. When combined with GS1 Digital Link, a QR code can serve both as a scannable checkout barcode and as a gateway to digital product information for consumers.
  </dd>

  <dt class="col-sm-3 col-lg-2">FNC1</dt>
  <dd class="col-sm-9 col-lg-10 mb-3">
    <strong>Function 1 Symbol Character</strong>.
    A special non-data character used in GS1 barcodes to indicate that the barcode follows GS1 encoding rules. In GS1-128, FNC1 appears at the start; in 2D codes, it signals GS1 data formatting to scanners.
  </dd>
</dl>

## Standards & Frameworks

<dl class="row mb-5">
  <dt class="col-sm-3 col-lg-2">GS1 Digital Link</dt>
  <dd class="col-sm-9 col-lg-10 mb-3">
    A standard that structures GS1 identifiers as web URIs, enabling a single QR code to work at point-of-sale and connect consumers to product information online. The URI follows the pattern: <code>https://id.gs1.org/01/{gtin}</code>.
  </dd>

  <dt class="col-sm-3 col-lg-2">EPCIS</dt>
  <dd class="col-sm-9 col-lg-10 mb-3">
    <strong>Electronic Product Code Information Services</strong>.
    A GS1 standard for capturing and sharing supply chain event data — what happened, when, where, and why. EPCIS 2.0 uses JSON-LD and supports RESTful APIs for interoperability.
  </dd>

  <dt class="col-sm-3 col-lg-2">CBV</dt>
  <dd class="col-sm-9 col-lg-10 mb-3">
    <strong>Core Business Vocabulary</strong>.
    A companion standard to EPCIS that provides standardized values for business steps (e.g., shipping, receiving), dispositions (e.g., in transit, recalled), and other event context fields.
  </dd>

  <dt class="col-sm-3 col-lg-2">DPP</dt>
  <dd class="col-sm-9 col-lg-10 mb-3">
    <strong>Digital Product Passport</strong>.
    A structured digital record containing a product's sustainability, composition, and lifecycle data. Required by the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) for certain product categories starting in 2027.
  </dd>
</dl>