A cordless barcode scanner sends barcodes back to your computer using Bluetooth technology. There is usually a cradle that connects to the USB port of your computer.

This cradle has two purposes. It recharges the cordless device and it wirelessly communicates with the cordless device. The barcodes that are read by the cordless scanner are "zapped" back to the cradle which then transmits the directly to where the cursor is on your computer screen.

Most cordless devices will store barcodes when they are out of communication range. Many devices
have a "stock take" mode where a set of barcodes is scanned to tell the cordless device to NOT transmit
barcodes. Once all of the "stock take"barcodes have been scanned, another set of barcodes is read
that tells the cordless barcode scanner to transmit the barcodes to wherever the cursor is on the screen.