Postal Numeric Encoding Technique

What Does Postal Numeric Encoding Technique Mean?

The Postal Numeric Encoding Technique (POSTNET) is a bar code method used by the United States Postal Service to assist in properly routing mail. In POSTNET, the ZIP code is formatted as a bar code, with each digit represented by five bars. The POSTNET codes always start and end with full bars.

Advertisements

Techopedia Explains Postal Numeric Encoding Technique

The Postal Numeric Encoding Technique encodes the ZIP code and destination address in a bar code format on postal mail. Techniques like error detection and correction are used in this system. Each digit consists of a set for five bars, two of which are full bars and three are half bars. Full bars represent “on” bits while half bars represent the “off” bits on the pseudo-binary code. Bar codes come in 5-digit (32-bar), 6-digit (37-bar), 9-digit (52-bar) or 11-digit (62-bar) formats.

POSTNET is largely being replaced by Intelligent Mail bar code which began implementation in 2013.

Advertisements

Related Terms

Latest Storage Terms

Related Reading

Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…