Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)

Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) is an identifier for trade items developed by GS1 (comprising among others, the former EAN International and Uniform Code Council). Such identifiers are used to look up product information in a database (often by entering the number through a bar code scanner pointed at an actual product) which may belong to a retailer, manufacturer, collector, researcher, or other entity. GTINs may be 8, 12, 13 or 14 digits long, and each of these 4 numbering structures are constructed in a similar fashion, combining Company Prefix, Item Reference and a calculated Check Digit.