Barcode Scanning
Scan product barcodes to automatically retrieve product information and quickly add items.
What Is a Barcode?
A barcode is a series of black and white stripes on product packaging, usually with a numeric code printed below. It serves as a product's "ID card" — every legitimate product has a unique barcode number.
A barcode is like a product's "ID number." When you scan it, the system can look up the product's name, brand, and other details — as easy as swiping a card.
Features
NeatHub's barcode scanning can:
- Auto-retrieve product info: After scanning a barcode, the system queries the backend database for product details
- Reliable data source: Product information is consistent with the national barcode center database, ensuring accuracy
- One-tap fill: Product name, brand, specifications, and more are auto-filled — no manual input needed
How to Use
- Open the scan page
Tap the add button on the home page and select "Barcode Scan"
- Scan the barcode
Align the barcode on the product packaging with the scan frame and hold your phone steady
- Wait for recognition
A vibration confirms successful recognition, and product info appears automatically
- Continue scanning
You can continue scanning the next barcode — continuous scanning of multiple products is supported
- Preset attributes
Optional: Tap "Attribute Preset" at the bottom to set common attributes for all products
- Batch save
After scanning, select the products you want to save and batch save them to your inventory
Continuous Scanning
Supports scanning multiple barcodes in a row:
- A vibration confirms each successful scan, and the product is added to the list
- You can continue scanning the next barcode
- The list shows all scanned products
- Select and save them in batch at the end
Recognize from Photo Album
If the barcode image is already saved in your photo album:
- Tap the album icon in the top right corner
- Select the image containing the barcode
- The system automatically recognizes the barcode in the image
Attribute Preset
You can preset common attributes for all scanned products:
- Tap the "Attribute Preset" button at the bottom
- Select the attribute values to preset (e.g., category, location)
- After saving, all products will automatically have these attributes applied
Manual Barcode Entry
If scanning is inconvenient (e.g., blurry barcode or poor lighting), you can manually enter the barcode number:
- Tap "Manual Entry" on the scan page
- Enter the barcode number from the product packaging (usually 8 or 13 digits)
- Tap search, and the system will retrieve product info from the backend
Data Source
Product barcode data comes from the backend database, consistent with the national barcode center (China Article Numbering Center). Currently supports barcode lookup for domestic Chinese products, with accurate and reliable information.
In addition to product barcodes, NeatHub also supports ISBN (International Standard Book Number) scanning. Scan the ISBN barcode on a book cover to retrieve the title, author, publisher, and more.
Use Cases
Scenario 1: Logging groceries after shopping
Just got home from shopping and want to record your purchases:
- Take out your purchases and scan each barcode one by one
- Product info is auto-filled — just add the price and quantity
- Log an entire bag of groceries in minutes
Scenario 2: Cataloging household items
Want to create an inventory of your household items:
- Find the barcode on the product packaging
- Scan to auto-retrieve the product name and brand
- Add purchase date and other details for easy future lookup
Scenario 3: Organizing a bookshelf
Want to catalog your book collection:
- Scan the ISBN barcode on the front or back cover
- Auto-retrieve the title, author, publisher, and more
- Add purchase date, reading status, etc.
- Easily manage your personal library
Scenario 4: Looking up product info
Want to know the details of a product:
- Scan the barcode to view product details
- See brand, specifications, and other official info
- More direct and accurate than searching online
Scenario Comparison
| What You Have | Recommended Approach | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic product with barcode | Scan the barcode | Info auto-fills — fastest method |
| Book (ISBN barcode) | Scan the ISBN | Auto-retrieves title, author, etc. |
| Blurry barcode / poor lighting | Enter barcode number manually | Same result, different input method |
| Shopping receipt | Use "Receipt Recognition" | Log multiple products at once |
| Imported product / no domestic barcode data | Add manually or use AI recognition | Imported products not yet supported |
| Product without a barcode | Add manually or use AI recognition | No barcode data for unregistered products |
FAQ
Try the following:
- Make sure there's enough light and no shadows blocking the barcode
- Hold your phone steady at an appropriate distance (about 10-15cm)
- Keep the barcode flat and crease-free — avoid curved packaging
- If scanning still fails, enter the barcode number manually
Possible reasons:
- Imported product: Currently only domestic Chinese product barcodes are supported — imported products have no data yet
- Small brand: Some smaller brands may not be in the database
- Store-specific code: Supermarket private-label barcodes may only work in-store
- In these cases, you can manually fill in the product info and still save the item
If the retrieved product info doesn't match the actual product, you can edit it before saving. The database info is based on the official barcode center. If there's a discrepancy, please let us know through the feedback channel.
Supported Barcode Types
Product Barcodes (Domestic Chinese Products Only)
- EAN-13: The most common 13-digit barcode, used by most domestic products
- EAN-8: 8-digit barcode, commonly found on small-packaged products
Product barcode data comes from the national barcode center (China Article Numbering Center) and currently only supports domestic Chinese products. Imported products (e.g., UPC codes) are not yet supported for auto-recognition — you'll need to enter the info manually.
ISBN Book Barcodes
- ISBN-13: The standard 13-digit book barcode, starting with 978 or 979
- ISBN-10: The older 10-digit book number, used on some older books
Scanning a book's ISBN barcode retrieves: title, author, publisher, publication date, and more.