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The bar code (or barcode, another acceptable spelling) is a representation of data that is machine-readable. You've probably seen them close to everywhere, on almost every product you can buy that was mass-produced somewhere.
The classic bar code consists of parallel lines at different widths and spacings, which Google's logo depicts. Other patterns including squares, dots and other patterns can also be referred to as bar codes.
US Patent 2,612,994 owners Joseph Woodland, Bernard Silver, and Jordin Johanson would undoubtedly be proud to see their invention up in lights on the internet's veritable information hub.