Universal Product Code

3.4

A set of black bars and numbers on a product package scanned in stores

noun
/ˈjuːnɪvɜrsəl ˈprɒdʌkt koʊd/

Specialized

: Código Universal de Producto

The Universal Product Code and the decoding laser scanner, introduced in 1974, tally a shopper's groceries far more quickly and accurately than the old method of inputting each purchase manually into a cash register.

Examples

With the Universal Product Code on the package, checkout times at the supermarket have become much faster.
Each product in the store features a Universal Product Code that allows for easy tracking and pricing.
The store manager scanned the Universal Product Code to check the inventory of items on the shelf.

Synonyms

barcode

vsUniversal Product Code

14 2.7

A pattern of lines printed on products that a scanner reads to identify them

focuses more on retail pricing and inventory control than general identification

bar code

vsUniversal Product Code

Specialized

4 2.5

A pattern of black bars and numbers on products that a scanner reads

emphasizes use for pricing and inventory control specifically in retail stores

Surface Forms

Universal Product Code singular

Universal Product Codes plural

Morphology

universal + product + code

The phrase is transparently compositional: 'universal' (applicable everywhere) + 'product' (an item for sale) + 'code' (a label or identifier) directly yields the idea of a code used to identify products. A B1 learner who knows the constituent words can infer it refers to an identifying code for products (even if they may not know the technical barcode details), and this compound logic is cross-linguistically common.

Etymology

Universal Product Code comes from the simple picture of black and white vertical bars printed on each product; the code is the pattern a machine reads and 'universal' means the same pattern works in many stores, so it is used to 'identify items and speed up checkout'.