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How does a computer read bar codes?

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Anonymous

13y ago
Updated: 8/20/2019

It 'scans' the barcode with a laser beam. The beam is reflected back to the reader, and hardware calculates the time taken. The wider the bar, the longer it takes for the beam to be reflected back. The time intervals are interpreted by the computer, and compared to a stock list.

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Wiki User

13y ago

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