An EAN barcode carries an identifier. Serialisation adds the ability to distinguish individual items.
A familiar retail barcode
EAN-13 is a barcode symbology carrying a GTIN-13. In everyday language, the number itself is often called an EAN. EAN-8 carries a shorter GTIN intended for small trade items; it is not an arbitrary shortened EAN-13.
Preserve the data when changing format
A GTIN-13 can be expressed in a 14-digit field with one leading zero. That is useful for Digital Link construction and EPC mapping. Retain the check digit when representing the complete GTIN.
EAN / GTIN-13 9521141890127
GTIN-14 09521141890127An EAN does not identify each physical copy
For an item-level workflow, a serial number complements the trade-item identity. The EPC tool supports ordinary GTIN-13 inputs with confirmed prefix information. EAN-8 needs separate mapping and is outside that encoder’s current scope.
EAN-8 is assigned, not truncated
Removing five digits from a GTIN-13 and calculating a new check digit does not create a validly allocated GTIN-8. The shorter format follows its own allocation conditions. If the number came from a scan, confirm that the symbol was EAN-8 rather than UPC-E before treating the eight characters as a GTIN-8.
Know which conversion you are requesting
Rendering EAN-13 bars, normalising a GTIN, constructing a Digital Link and encoding an SGTIN-96 are different operations. This site validates the number, builds a Digital Link QR and encodes the supported SGTIN subset. It does not currently export an EAN-13 or UPC-A linear barcode image. Select a tool by its documented operation rather than treating every result as a printable retail barcode.
Sources & further reading
Prepared by Only1 with reference to the public materials below. Consult the original sources for the complete standard or regulatory requirements.
GS1 · BarcodesGS1 · GTIN, EAN, UPC and barcodesGS1 · EPC Tag Data Standard 2.3 (Oct 2025)