The Parts of a Cash Register

Developed in the late 1800s, a cash register is used in retail stores. Although the cash register is still part of retail stores, the parts have changed to show the technology of the times.

Keys on the cash register consist of a number pad and buttons such as the subtotal, total and tax keys. Most of these are not necessary now because a scanner has replaced them, but subtotal, total and tax keys are still common.

You use a scanner to ring up the merchandise a person buys. The scanner reads the bar code, which tells you the item and the price. This is particularly helpful to merchants because it helps them not only keep track of sales but also inventory.

The cash drawer is a place to keep the money that customers pay and a place to put other receipts for the payment of merchandise such as credit card information and gift certificates.

The printer produces the receipt you give the customer and a copy for the merchant. This is important to keep track of sales and inventory.

A credit reader is another way to keep track of the sale when done on a credit card. The customer inserts his credit card into the reader and sometimes signs the credit reader; other times, he needs to sign the receipt.