Editing Product key (section)

{{Short description|Specific software-based key for a computer program}}
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[[File:Proof of License Certificate of Authenticity for Windows Vista Home Premium OEM.jpg|thumb|Product key on a Proof of License Certificate of Authenticity for [[Windows Vista]] Home Premium]]
A '''product key''', also known as a '''software key, serial key''' or '''activation key''', is a specific software-based key for a [[computer program]]. It certifies that the copy of the program is original.

Product keys consist of a series of numbers and/or letters. This sequence is typically entered by the user during the installation of computer software, and is then passed to a verification function in the program. This function manipulates the key sequence according to an [[algorithm]] or mathematical formula and attempts to match the results to a set of valid solutions. If they match, the program is activated, permitting its use or unlocking features. With knowledge about the algorithm used, such as that obtained via reverse engineering of the program, it is possible to create programs called [[keygens]] that generate these keys for a particular program.