Part of the Computing fundamentals glossary:

In barcode technology, a quiet zone is the blank margin on either side of a bar code that's used to tell the barcode reader where a barcode's symbology starts and stops. The purpose of a quiet zone is to prevent the reader from picking up information that does not pertain to the bar code that is being scanned. (The blank margin will not send a scanning signal, hence the name "quiet".) As a rule, the quiet zone should be ten times the dimension of the narrowest element in the bar code ( X dimension ) or 1/4 inch, whichever is greater. An undersize quiet zone may render a bar code unreadable, or readable only in one direction.

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This was last updated in September 2005
Posted by: Margaret Rouse

Related Terms

Definitions

  • X dimension

    - In barcode technology, the X dimension is the narrowest part of a barcode's symbology. (WhatIs.com)

  • bar code (or barcode)

    - A bar code (often seen as a single word, barcode) is the small image of lines (bars) and spaces that is affixed to retail store items, identification cards, and postal mail to identify a particular... (SearchManufacturingERP.com)

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  • Computing fundamentals

    - Terms related to computer fundamentals, including computer hardware definitions and words and phrases about software, operating systems, peripherals and troubleshooting.

  • Internet applications

    - This WhatIs.com glossary contains terms related to Internet applications, including definitions about Software as a Service (SaaS) delivery models and words and phrases about web sites, e-commerce ...

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