Editing Nominal number (section)

{{short description|Numeric or alphanumeric code (without independent meaning) used for labelling or identification}}
{{For|the [[economics]] term|Real vs. nominal in economics}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2008}}
'''Nominal numbers''' are numerals used as labels to [[Unique identifier|identify items uniquely]]. Importantly, the actual values of the numbers which these numerals represent are less relevant, as they do not indicate quantity, rank, or any other measurement.

Labelling referees Smith and Kumar as referees "1" and "2" is a use of nominal numbers. Any set of numbers (a subset of the natural numbers) will be consistent labels as long as a ''distinct'' number is uniquely used for each distinct term which needs to be labelled. Nonetheless, sequences of integers may naturally be used as the simplest way to begin labelling; for example, 1, 2, 3, and so on.