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What Is an ISBN Number?

The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a unique identifying number for books published around the world. Based on a coding system developed by a British statistician, an ISBN is assigned to each edition of a book. However, the ISBN is not simply a random number; its parts convey specific information about the book itself.

  1. History

    • The ISBN is based on a book numbering system developed in the 1960s by Professor F.G. Foster. This later became the standard worldwide.

    Function

    • The ISBN exists to identify one particular title or edition of a book from a specific publisher.

    Size

    • For years, the ISBN was 10 digits in length. Since 2007, ISBNs have used 13 digits.

    Features

    • The 13-digit ISBN begins with the prefix "978," followed by four parts: a geographic code (0 denotes an English-speaking country), a publisher identification number, a number that identifies the title and a single digit that validates the ISBN.

    Geography

    • ISBN agencies have the exclusive authority of assigning these numbers. There are 160 such agencies around the world (see Resources).

    Misconceptions

    • The ISBN is different from the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN), which identifies magazines and other periodicals.

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