Barcode is a technology for identifying products, and its current form was developed in the mid-20th century.

1. Initial development: The foundation of barcodes began in Palo Alto, California in 1948. The initial form of Whoopi Code (UPC) was developed in a project involving Bernard Silverline and Norman Woodland.

2. Industry standardization: In the early 1970s, barcodes became the standard method for identifying products. The UPC barcode is mainly used, and it is still widely used in many countries, including the United States.

3. Development of scanners: The development of barcode scanner technology has increased the practicality of barcodes. Early barcodes were read by optical scanners, but laser scanners were later introduced, making barcodes more efficient and faster to recognize.

4. International Standardization: The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has played a key role in promoting international barcode standardization. This has led to the standardization of various types of barcodes, allowing them to be used in global trade.

5. Application Expansion: Barcode technology was initially used primarily for product identification, but it is now being used in a variety of fields, including logistics, automotive parts management, and medical records. The emergence of new technologies such as RFID is also contributing to the advancement of barcode technology.