What does EAN code mean?

An EAN code is a designation used to identify products in retail and e-commerce. In practice, the term often refers to the GTIN numeric identifier, most commonly the thirteen-digit GTIN-13, together with its EAN-13 barcode symbol. Each product or specific variant is assigned a unique number that allows it to be clearly identified in point-of-sale, warehouse, logistics or e-commerce systems. The barcode allows this number to be read quickly by a scanner. EAN codes thus make it easier to record goods, manage inventory, sell and share product data between manufacturers, distributors, retailers and online marketplaces.