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Complex Instruction Set Computer Processor - the x86 and Pentium families use CISC processors that process complex instructions requiring less instructions per operation resulting in faster performance. The performance efficiency of a RISC processor can sometimes, however, be effected by the software installed in the machine as newer, more complex software versions contain more instructions that the processor needs to process.

Reduced Instruction Set Computer Processor - by reducing the # of instructions that a CPU supports will reduce the complexity of the chip, thus enhancing performance. However, the time it takes to fetch, decode and execute the instruction may take longer than executing more code on a CISC processor. Examples of the RISC processors are the Hitachi SH1 and SH2. Also the PowerPC uses RISC architecture.

The “X”-dimension is the narrowest bar or space in the bar code. This bar or space is measured in millimeters. (mil=1/1000 of an inch). The “X”- dimension defines the density of a linear symbology. Depending on what the “X”-dimension of a bar code is, the bar code will be called either high density or low density.

The achieved width of the narrow elements, calculated as the average of the narrow bar width and the average narrow space width.

Two Dimensional Bar codes are special rectangular codes which ‘stack’ information in a manner allowing for more information storage in a smaller amount of space. These are also referred to as ‘Stacked’ Bar Codes or ‘Matrix’ Bar Codes. A standard bar code is limited to 20 to 25 characters.

The determination of whether any element width or inter-character gap width (if applicable) differs from its nominal width by more than the printing tolerance.

Automated Data Collection or Automated Data Capture - refers to all technologies that automate the process of data collection without the use of a keyboard, including bar code, magnetic stripe, (OCR) optical card reader, voice recognition, smart card or (RFID) radio frequency identification. ADC provides a quick accurate and costeffective way to collect and enter data.

1) A substance (cement, glue, gum) capable of holding materials together by surface contact. 2) The portion of a pressure sensitive label which allows the label to cling to its intended surface.

Automotive Industry Action Group. A trade association responsible for creating automotive industry standards pertaining to bar code symbology and common label formats.

Automatic Identification Manufacturers, Inc. A U.S. trade association headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA who represent the manufacturers of automatic identification systems.

In an automatic identification system (Auto ID), the relative position and orientation of a scanner to the symbol.

A character set consisting of letters, numbers and usually other character such as special symbols.

American National Standards Institute – a non-governmental organization responsible for the development of voluntary bar code, quality standards. Bar code printing standards and the readability of bar code symbols are determined and classified into grades from A to F, in order to provide an overall symbol quality test.

The opening on an optical system (scanner) that establishes the field of view.

The particular use of the label, tag or ticket will serve once the barcode, text, or graphic image is applied.

The temperature at the time the label is applied.

Used on a thermal transfer ribbon to prevent the ribbon from sticking to the printhead and to the substrate (media/label material). It also protects the printhead from excessive heat, static, and abrasion.

The spaces, quiet zones, and areas surrounding a printed symbol.

A bar code is a piece of Automatic Identification Technology (Auto ID) that stores real time data. It is a series of vertical bars or a graphical bar pattern which can, (depending on the width and pattern) encode numbers and letters in a format which can easily be retrieved and interpreted by a bar code reader.

A bar code is a piece of Automatic Identification Technology (Auto ID) that stores real time data. It is a series of vertical bars or a graphical bar pattern which can, (depending on the width and pattern) encode numbers and letters in a format which can easily be retrieved and interpreted by a bar code reader.

A single group of bars and stripes that represents a specific quantity (often one) of numbers, letters, punctuation marks, or other symbols. This is the smallest subset of a bar code symbol that contains data.

The number of characters that can be represented in a linear unit of measure. This number is often expressed in characters per inch or cpi.

The bar dimension perpendicular to the bar width. Also called bar height. Scanning is performed in an axis perpendicular to the bar length.

The thickness of a bar measured from the edge closest to the symbol start character to the trailing edge of the same bar.

A bar code is a piece of Automatic Identification Technology (Auto ID) that stores real time data. It is a series of vertical bars or a graphical bar pattern which can, (depending on the width and pattern) encode numbers and letters in a format which can easily be retrieved and interpreted by a bar code reader.

Bar code symbology capable of being read successfully independent of scanning direction.