Editing Luhn algorithm (section)

{{Short description|Simple checksum formula}}

The '''Luhn algorithm''' or '''Luhn formula''' (creator: [[IBM]] scientist [[Hans Peter Luhn]]), also known as the "[[modular arithmetic|modulus]] 10" or "mod 10" [[algorithm]], is a simple [[check digit]] formula used to validate a variety of identification numbers. {{efn|It is described in [[United States|US]] patent 2950048A, granted on {{date|1960-08-23|DMY}}.<ref name="US2950048A">{{cite patent|title=Computer for Verifying Numbers|country=US|number=2950048A|status=patent|pubdate={{date|1960-08-23|DMY}}|gdate={{date|1960-08-23|DMY}}|invent1=Luhn|inventor1-first=Hans Peter|fdate=1954-01-06|inventorlink=Hans Peter Luhn}}</ref>}}

The algorithm is in the [[public domain]] and is in wide use today. It is specified in [[ISO/IEC 7812-1]].<ref>{{cite tech report|title=Identification cards {{mdash}} Identification of issuers {{mdash}} Part 1: Numbering system|number=[[ISO/IEC 7812]]-1:{{date|2017|DMY}}|institution=[[International Organization for Standardization]] & [[International Electrotechnical Commission]]|date={{date|Jan 2017|DMY}}|type=standard|url=https://www.iso.org/standard/70484.html|chapter=Annex B: Luhn formula for computing modulus-10 “double-add-double” check digits}}</ref> It is not intended to be a [[cryptographic hash function|cryptographically secure hash function]]; it was designed to protect against accidental errors, not malicious attacks. Most [[credit card number]]s and many [[government identification numbers]] use the algorithm as a simple method of distinguishing valid numbers from mistyped or otherwise incorrect numbers.