What is the primary function of barcodes on mail and packages?

The primary function of barcodes on mail and packages is to facilitate tracking and sorting. Barcodes provide a scannable code that can be quickly read by machines, allowing for efficient processing in postal facilities. This technology automates the sorting of mail based on the barcode data, which indicates destination routing and delivery information. As a result, it significantly increases the speed and accuracy of mail handling, ensuring that items are correctly sorted and delivered in a timely manner.

While enhancing customer service and displaying sender information are important aspects of postal operations, they do not encapsulate the main purpose of barcodes. Marketing information may also be associated with certain forms of mail, but it is not the core role of barcodes in the postal system. Thus, the essential purpose of barcodes is their utility in tracking and sorting, which is crucial for the overall efficiency of mail delivery.