M
API Matrix

UPC database API

⭐ Beginner's Pick Open Data / API Key Intermediate HTTPS
Varies by plan (check documentation)
72 Score
Grade B
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Overview

The UPC Database API lets you look up product information by scanning or entering a barcode number, returning details like product name, description, and category from a database of over 1.5 million items worldwide. You need a free API key to make requests. It is ideal for building inventory apps, price checkers, or any project that needs to identify physical products by their barcode.

💡

Beginner Tip

Sign up for a free tier API key at upcdatabase.org to get started—the free plan allows a limited number of lookups per day, which is plenty for learning and small projects.

Available Data

generated QR code image
encoded data string
UPC database data via REST API
JSON-formatted response data
Requires API key authentication

Example Response

JSON Response 
{
  "image_url": "https://api.example.com/qr/abc123.png",
  "data": "https://example.com",
  "format": "png",
  "size": "300x300"
}

Field Reference

success True if the barcode was found in the database, false otherwise.
barcode_number The UPC/EAN barcode number that was queried.
barcode_type Format of the barcode, such as UPC-A, EAN-13, or CODE-128.
product_name Name or title of the product associated with this barcode.
category Product category, such as Food & Beverages or Electronics.
brand Manufacturer or brand name of the product.

Implementation Example 

// ⚠️ Note: This URL may be a documentation page. Check official docs for actual API endpoint.
const url = "https://upcdatabase.org/api";
// Replace headers or query params with the values required by this API.
const response = await fetch(url, {
  headers: {
  "X-API-Key": "YOUR_API_KEY"
  }
});
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${response.status}`);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);

What Can You Build?

Note: These code examples are AI-generated and unverified. Always refer to the official API documentation for accurate usage.

Common Errors & Troubleshooting

401 Unauthorized Missing or incorrectly formatted API key in the request.
✓ Include your API key as a Bearer token in the Authorization header: Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY.
404 Product Not Found The barcode number does not exist in the database.
✓ Verify the barcode by scanning it yourself or checking it on upcdatabase.org—not all products are indexed.
429 Rate Limit Exceeded Exceeding the daily lookup quota on your current plan.
✓ Track your usage in the dashboard and upgrade your plan if you need more lookups, or cache results to avoid redundant requests.

Matrix Score Breakdown

🌐 Reachability 30/30
⚡ Speed 5/20
🔒 Security 15/15
🛠 Developer XP 12/20
✓ Reliability 10/15

Partially tested on Apr 5, 2026

Technical Specifications

Auth API Key
HTTPS REQUIRED
CORS UNKNOWN
Category Open Data
Difficulty Intermediate
Verified: 2026-04-04

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