Serial numbers can consist of both letters and numbers. They are unique to each individual item so that manufacturers and retailers can easily track a specific unit. Vehicles and firearms, for example, must be registered by the owner according to a vehicle identification number (VIN) or serial number, respectively. Many software programs come with serial numbers by which the software can be registered with the publisher. Computer hardware, currency, electronics, personal identification documents and some designer accessories like purses or jewelry include serial numbers.
The International Standard Book Number is a 13-digit number that is usually printed on a book's copyright page and on its back cover. It is normally printed next to or just above or below the barcode, but it is not the same. Barcodes are used to scan products for inventory and selling purposes. The ISBN refers to to publisher, country and region of publication and title. All books of the same title and edition will have the same ISBN, and they can be re-used when a title goes out of print. ISBNs are used on books of all types, including comics, audiobooks, educational or instructional CDs and DVDs, e-books, some calendars, maps and brochures.
All ISBNs have been prefixed by "978" since switching from 10 to 13 digits. Following this prefix is a single-digit group or national identifier, which is unique to each country or region of publication. After this identifier is a three-digit publisher identifier, which points to a specific publisher within the group or geographic region. The next five digits of the ISBN identify the title and edition of the publication, and the last number is a check number that validates the ISBN. Adjacent sections of the ISBN are separated by hyphens.
The exact content of a serial number is determined by the type of product and the manufacturer; they identify products by batch and place of production. When you buy something with a serial number, you will often have the option of registering it with the retailer or manufacturer. This is for quality control and security; if your item is lost or stolen, it can often be traced. Serial numbers are also used to identify counterfeit merchandise. They are used on a wider variety of items than ISBNs, which are specific to the publishing industry. It is, however, possible for a product to have both an ISBN and a serial number.