A barcode (bar code) is an optical machine readable representation of data. Barcodes can be lines of varying widths, patterns of squares, dots, hexagons and other geometric patterns. Bar coding is used to identify company logo, products and product information. The barcodes are read with a barcode reader which is an optical scanner.

Barcode labels, or tags, can be applied with the use of an automatic applicator or manual barcode gun.  Typical uses of barcodes in the wood products industry for inventory tracking as well as for finished product information are:

Sawmill: Thickness, width, length, grade, species and customer information are some of the information that can be recorded in the barcode data for lumber barcoding (bar coding boards).

Planermill: Thickness, width, length, grade, species and customer information are some of the information that can be recorded in the barcode data for lumber barcoding (bar coding boards).

Plywood Plant: Thickness, sheet size, grade, species and customer information are some of the information that can be recorded in the barcode data for veneer and plywood barcoding (bar coding).

OSB Plant: Thickness, sheet size, grade, species and customer information are some of the information that can be recorded in the barcode data for oriented strand board barcoding (bar coding).

MDF Plant: Thickness, sheet size, grade, species and customer information are some of the information that can be recorded in the barcode data for medium density fibreboard barcoding (bar coding).

Pulp and Paper Mill: Bale weight, pulp type, identification number and customer information are some of the information that can be recorded in the barcode data for pulp and paper barcoding (bar coding).

English Terminology: bar coding, barcoding. bar codes, barcode, tag, tags, tagging, gun, tool, applicator,applying, marking, wood, lumber, boards, timber, plywood, panels, sawmill, planer mill, plywood plant, oriented strand board, medium density fibre board, pulp, paper, wet mill, dry mill

French Terminology: codage à barres, codes à barres, code à barres, tag, tags, de marquage, des armes à feu, outils, applicateur, appliquer, le marquage, le bois, le bois, planches, bois, contreplaqué, panneaux, scierie, rabotage, usine de contreplaqué, panneaux à copeaux orientés, de densité moyenne panneaux de fibres, de pâte, papier, moulin à eau, moulin à sec

German Terminology: Barcodes, Barcodes, Barcode, Begriffe, Tags, Tagging, Waffe, Werkzeug, Applikator, Anwendung, Kennzeichnung, Holz, Bauholz, Bretter, Holz, Sperrholz, Platten-, Säge-, Hobel-Mühle, Sperrholz Pflanze, OSB, mittlerer Dichte Faserplatten, Zellstoff, Papier, Zerkleinerer, trocken Mühle

Spanish Terminology: códigos de barras, códigos de barras, código de barras, etiquetas, etiquetas, etiquetas, arma, herramienta, aplicador, aplicar, el marcado de madera, madera aserrada, tableros, madera, madera contrachapada, tableros, aserraderos, fábrica de cepillo, planta de madera contrachapada, tableros de fibra orientada, de densidad media tableros de fibras, celulosa, papel, beneficio húmedo, beneficio seco