 Yes this is a real barcode...
UPC stands for Universal Product Code. The Universal Product Code is a standardisation of barcodes which were first used in 1973.
The guard bars composed of equally-spaced space-bar-space-bar-space patterns help barcode scanners align and verify to the signal.
The leftmost digit represents UPC type (Number System Character). For our t-shirts, this will be a randomly generated number between 0 & 9. The next 4 digits are the manufacturer code (or the first part of your chosen date), as assigned by a national registry (you). The next four numbers are the manufacturer-assigned product code (in this case the other part of your date). The final digit serves as an integrity check ie the check digit.
Each number code is composed of seven units (bars). A unit being determined by the width of one of the bars in the guard bar. When two or more units sit next to each other the bars appear thicker. There are a left set of number codes and a right set of number codes which mirror each other.
As with must barcodes the NSC and Check Digit are included as the number code only with the actual numbers omited. In the example above we have used 0 as our NSC and 4 our check digit.
What is the check digit?
- It can determine if a person keys in a number incorrectly
- If a barcode is scanned it can determine of the scanner made a mistake
Step 1: Sum all of the digits in the odd positions (Note this refers to the position of the number not the value of the number itself) together. So from our example:
0+2+4+6+8 = 20
Step 2: Mutliply the sum from Step 1 by 3.
3 * 20 = 60
Step 3: Sum of all the digits in the even positions together.
1+3+5+7 = 16
Step 4: Sum together the results from Step 2 and Step 3.
60 + 16 = 76
Step 5: Subtract the sum from the next highest multiple of 10.
80 - 76 = 4 [check digit]
666?
Every UPC (Universal Product Code) barcode in the world is divided into two parts by three markers (the beginning, middle and end markers). These markers have the same 'bar-space-bar' pattern (101) as the barcode number six. So every product carrying a UPC barcode also carries a mark resembling 666.
"And [the Antichrist] causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
And that no man might buy or sell, save [except] he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six [666]". - Revelations 13:16-1
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