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QR codes and the resolver

Every published battery product carries a QR code that links the physical item to its Digital Product Passport. Scanning it with any phone camera opens the passport in a browser, no app required. This page explains the journey from scan to passport.

The QR code encodes a GS1 Digital Link URL. This is an open industry standard for turning a product's identifiers into a web address. On Traceable the link takes the form:

https://app.traceable.digital/01/{gtin}

where {gtin} is the product's Global Trade Item Number. When a scanner opens this address, Traceable looks up the GTIN, finds the matching product, and renders its passport straight away. The GS1 URL stays in the browser's address bar (there is no redirect to a different-looking link), which keeps the address predictable and shareable.

Serial and batch level​

The link can be more specific than a single product model. Extra segments identify an individual unit or a production batch:

https://app.traceable.digital/01/{gtin}/21/{serial}
https://app.traceable.digital/01/{gtin}/10/{batch}
  • 21/{serial} identifies a specific serial number.
  • 10/{batch} identifies a batch or lot.

Traceable matches these against the product's own serial number and batch identifier. If the combination is not recognised, or the link is malformed, the resolver returns a Product Not Found page (HTTP 404) rather than guessing at a match.

Machine clients​

The same link serves both people and software. A browser receives the human-readable passport page. A machine client that asks for structured data (by sending an Accept: application/ld+json request header) is instead sent to the passport's JSON-LD endpoint, following GS1 Digital Link content negotiation. This lets automated systems read the passport data directly.

Withdrawn products​

If a product has been withdrawn by its manufacturer, the human-readable page shows a styled notice explaining that the passport has been withdrawn, along with any withdrawal reason, details, and manufacturer contact the manufacturer supplied.

The machine-readable JSON endpoint for a withdrawn product returns HTTP 410 Gone, the correct signal to automated clients and search engines that the resource has been intentionally removed.