GS1 Glossary

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

Identifiers

GTIN: Global Trade Item Number. 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.
GLN: Global Location Number. 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.
SGTIN: Serialized Global Trade Item Number. 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.
SSCC: Serial Shipping Container Code. 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.
AI: Application Identifier. 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.

GS1-128: 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.
Data Matrix: 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.
QR Code: 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.
FNC1: Function 1 Symbol Character. 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.

GS1 Digital Link: 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: https://id.gs1.org/01/{gtin}.
EPCIS: Electronic Product Code Information Services. 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.
CBV: Core Business Vocabulary. 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.
DPP: Digital Product Passport. 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.