ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Intelligent Mail barcode

An intelligent mail barcode is a special kind of code that is used by the post office to keep track of letters and packages that are being mailed. Think of it like a secret superpower that mail has to help it get from one place to another.

The barcode looks a bit like a bunch of lines and dots, like the ones you might see in a comic book. But to the post office, these markings are like a special language that helps them know where the mail needs to go.

When you mail something, the barcode is printed on a label or sticker that gets stuck onto the package or envelope. Then, when the mail gets sorted at the post office, a scanner reads the barcode and figures out where it needs to go.

This clever barcode helps the post office move mail around more efficiently and quickly, which means that your letters and packages can get to their destination faster. Cool, huh?