In a UPC (Universal Product Code) checkout system, where is the item’s price typically stored and retrieved from at point of sale?

Introduction / Context:
UPC barcodes encode an identifier, not the price. Modern point-of-sale (POS) systems scan the UPC, look it up in a database, and retrieve current pricing, discounts, or promotions. This enables dynamic price updates without reprinting every package.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Retail checkout uses barcode scanners and a central pricing database.
• UPC symbol encodes manufacturer and item code, not numeric price.

Concept / Approach:
Because the UPC is an identifier, the price must be stored elsewhere—namely, in computer storage (the POS pricing database). Shelf labels may show human-readable prices, but the authoritative price at checkout comes from the database record tied to the UPC code.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Retail systems update prices centrally, and changes take effect immediately at checkout without altering product packaging. Audits compare shelf labels to POS database to ensure consistency.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• On the item only: modern barcodes do not embed price values.
• Item + shelf label: shelf labels are informational; the system of record is the database.
• Shelf + database simultaneously as the authoritative store: the shelf label is not a storage system.
• None: incorrect because the price resides in computer storage tied to the UPC.

Common Pitfalls:
Assuming the barcode encodes the price; confusing human-readable labels with the transactional data source; overlooking price overrides or promotions applied by the POS rules engine.

Final Answer:
In computer storage (price database linked to the UPC)