A barcode is a visual representation of data that is machine-readable. In the retail industry, barcodes are commonly used to encode information about products, such as price, stock levels, and other details. These codes consist of a series of black and white parallel lines of varying widths, along with corresponding numbers. When scanned by a barcode reader, the information is quickly and accurately extracted, allowing for efficient inventory management, sales transactions, and tracking of products throughout the supply chain. Barcodes have become integral in streamlining retail operations, reducing errors, and improving overall efficiency in the tracking and management of products.