EAN vs. GTIN: what is the difference?
EAN and GTIN are often used as synonyms, but GTIN is the broader product identification concept.
GTIN is the umbrella term
GTIN means Global Trade Item Number. It is used worldwide to identify trade items and can contain 8, 12, 13 or 14 digits depending on the format.
What EAN means
EAN historically refers to the European Article Numbering system and is still commonly used for the familiar EAN-13 barcode. Today GS1 generally refers to the identifier itself as a GTIN.
Why both terms remain common
Online shops, inventory systems and consumers still use expressions such as EAN number or EAN code. A useful search therefore needs to understand both terms.
For product search
You do not need to decide which label to use. What matters is whether the number is structurally valid and whether product data can be associated with it.