Glossary

GS1 Digital Link

A GS1 standard that turns a product's GTIN into a resolvable web URL, letting a single QR code serve consumers, retailers, regulators and supply-chain systems.

GS1 Digital Link extends traditional barcodes (which only carry a number) into web-resolvable URLs. A single scan can route to a consumer experience, a regulatory record, an inventory system or a Digital Product Passport — based on context, language and link type.

Because the URL is built around the existing GTIN, brands keep their identifier investment while gaining a richer data carrier. GS1 expects 2D barcodes built on Digital Link to replace traditional 1D EAN/UPC barcodes on most consumer goods by 2027.

Digital Link is the recommended carrier for EU Digital Product Passports because it bridges supply-chain interoperability and consumer-facing scanning in one standard.

Implement this with SmartLinks

SmartLinks: GS1 Digital Link

Related terms

Digital Product Passport (DPP)

A structured, digital record of a product's identity, materials, supply chain and sustainability data, accessible via a data carrier such as a QR code or NFC tag.

GTIN (Global Trade Item Number)

The unique numeric identifier assigned to a product by GS1 — the same number encoded in every retail barcode in the world.

QR Code

A 2D matrix barcode that encodes a URL or data string and can be scanned with any modern smartphone camera.

Connected Packaging

Physical packaging that carries a scannable data carrier (QR, NFC, RFID) linking the product to a live digital experience.

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