The origins of the modern barcode date back to 1948 when a supermarket in Philadelphia approached the Drexel Institute of Technology seeking a way to automatically read product information at checkout, according to The Economic Times. This problem, sketched in simple lines, inspired graduate student Bernard Silver and his friend Norman Woodland to develop a code using ultraviolet ink and later a pattern of concentric circles.
Woodland, drawing inspiration from Morse code, created a linear barcode pattern that could be scanned optically. The concept eventually evolved into the Universal Product Code (UPC) adopted in the 1970s, revolutionizing retail inventory management.
Since its commercial introduction, the barcode has become a ubiquitous tool in supply chains worldwide, enabling efficient tracking and sales. The story of its accidental invention remains a landmark of retail innovation.