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The most common bar code symbol is the Universal Product Code (UPC). UPC codes are widely used in retail and are familiar to consumers as they appear on almost every packaged product in stores. This bar code system helps with inventory management, price scanning, and tracking of products throughout the supply chain.

The UPC includes a series of vertical bars and spaces that represent numerical data, which can be scanned by electronic devices for quick identification of products. Its standardization allows for seamless communication between manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, facilitating efficient operations in logistics.

In contrast, the other bar code symbols mentioned are less commonly used in general retail. The RPC (Returnable Plastic Container) code is specific to tracking containers, the EPC (Electronic Product Code) is employed for RFID tags, and the IPC (Interleaved 2 of 5) is primarily used in industrial settings for warehouse and distribution purposes. These are all important in their own contexts but do not match the prevalence of the UPC in everyday consumer products.