An EAN, or European Article Number, is a unique identifier used to distinguish products in retail and inventory systems. It typically consists of 13 digits and helps businesses track items efficiently. EANs are essential for barcodes, which are scanned at points of sale to streamline transactions. These numbers are part of the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) system, which includes other formats like UPCs (Universal Product Codes). EANs ensure that products are easily identifiable across different countries and retailers, facilitating international trade and inventory management.