EAN-5

EAN-5 is an optional additional bar code to the right of a EAN-13 or UPC-A bar code, used on product packaging for checkout scanning. It encodes an extra five digits in addition to the main UPC or EAN code, used for supplementary information (of a larger size than the other EAN-2 supplementary code which only encodes two digits). Book publishers use this to encode the suggested list price of the book. Comic book publishers use it on direct-sale versions (to the comic shop market) to encode the issue number and distinguish variant versions and printings; the first three digits correspond to the issue number (so they'll have a problem when a title reaches #1000, though this may not happen given their propensity to reboot titles with new #1 issues; Action Comics was past #900 before it was reset), then one digit representing the printing ("1" for first printing, which collectors usually want) and one digit for variant (e.g., different covers).

Software

 * Review of barcode scanner apps
 * iOS app to read UPC/EAN codes and find product info/prices
 * Android app to read UPC and QR codes to look up product info/prices and other info coded or linked in bar codes
 * Bar Code app (iOS)

Developer libraries and modules

 * ZBar bar code reader library: cross-platform
 * zxing (Zebra Crossing) (barcode library for Java, ported to some other systems)
 * MediaWiki extension to generate UPC, EAN, and Code39 codes
 * Postscript Barcode (barcode writer)

Utilities

 * Global UPC database
 * Another UPC search site
 * Online barcode generator (supports many different formats)
 * Another bar code generator