EAN-8
An EAN-8 is an EAN/UPC symbology barcode and is derived from the longer International Article Number code. It was introduced for use on small packages where an EAN-13 barcode would be too large; for example on cigarettes, pencils, and chewing gum packets. It is encoded identically to the 12 digits of the UPC-A barcode, except that it has 4 digits in each of the left and right halves.
EAN-8 barcodes may be used to encode GTIN-8 which are product identifiers from the GS1 System. A GTIN-8 begins with a 2- or 3-digit GS1 prefix, and a checksum digit.
EAN-8 codes are common throughout the world, and companies may also use them to encode RCN-8, and use them to identify own-brand products sold only in their stores. RCN-8 are a subset of GTIN-8 which begin with a first digit of 0 or 2.
