Editing Serial number (section)

==Other uses of the term==
The term ''serial number'' is sometimes used for codes which do not identify a single instance of something. For example, the [[International Standard Serial Number]] or ISSN used on magazines, journals and other [[Periodical literature|periodicals]], an equivalent to the [[International Standard Book Number]] (ISBN) applied to books, is assigned to each ''periodical''. It takes its name from the [[library science]] use of the word ''serial'' to mean a periodical.

Certificates and [[certificate authority|certificate authorities]] (CA) are necessary for widespread use of [[cryptography]]. These depend on applying mathematically rigorous serial numbers and serial number arithmetic, again not identifying a single instance of the content being protected.

[[File:Short_SC.1.jpg|thumb|The [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] serial (''XG900'') on the [[Short SC.1]]]]

===Military and government use===
The term ''serial number'' is also used in military formations as an alternative to the expression ''[[service number]]''.{{Citation needed|reason=The linked article suggests that service numbers apply to people|date=January 2009}} In [[air force]]s, the serial number is used to uniquely identify individual aircraft and is usually painted on both sides of the aircraft fuselage, most often in the tail area, although in some cases the serial is painted on the side of the aircraft's fin/rudder(s).  Because of this, the serial number is sometimes called a ''tail number''.

{{Main|United Kingdom military aircraft registration number}}
In the UK [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) the individual serial takes the form of two letters followed by three digits, e.g., ''BT308''—the prototype [[Avro Lancaster]], or ''XS903''—an [[English Electric Lightning|English Electric Lightning F.6]] at one time based at RAF [[Binbrook]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/DentonNeville/6467.htm|title=British Aircraft Corporation Lightning F.Mk.6|website=1000aircraftphotos.com|access-date=2 June 2007|archive-date=29 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929084235/http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/DentonNeville/6467.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> During the [[World War II|Second World War]] RAF aircraft that were [[Secrecy|secret]] or carrying secret equipment had "/G" (for "Guard") appended to the serial, denoting that the aircraft was to have an armed guard at all times while on the ground, e.g., ''LZ548/G''—the prototype [[de Havilland Vampire]] [[jet engine|jet]] [[Fighter aircraft|fighter]], or ''ML926/G''—a [[de Havilland Mosquito|de Havilland Mosquito XVI]] experimentally fitted with [[H2S radar]]. Prior to this scheme the RAF, and predecessor [[Royal Flying Corps]] (RFC), utilized a serial consisting of a letter followed by four figures, e.g., ''D8096''—a [[Bristol F.2 Fighter]] currently owned by the [[Shuttleworth Collection]], or ''K5054''—the prototype [[Supermarine Spitfire]]. The serial number follows the aircraft throughout its period of service.

In 2009, the U.S. [[U.S. Food and Drug Administration|FDA]] published draft guidance for the [[pharmaceutical industry]] to use serial numbers on prescription drug packages.<ref name=giss>{{cite web|last=Food and Drug Administration |title=Guidance for Industry Standards for Securing the Drug Supply Chain - Standardized Numerical Identification for Prescription Drug Packages Draft Guidance |website=[[Food and Drug Administration]] |url=https://www.fda.gov/oc/guidance/drugsupplychain.html |access-date=19 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511135327/https://www.fda.gov/oc/guidance/drugsupplychain.html |archive-date=11 May 2009 }}</ref>  This measure is intended to enhance the [[traceability]] of drugs and to help prevent [[counterfeit medications|counterfeiting]]. The FDA also required a serial number or lot number to be added to [[breast implant]]s.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mbcalliance.org/guestblogposts/force-content/stronger-guidance-about-breast-implant-safety/ | title=Stronger guidance about breast implant safety | date=14 December 2021 }}</ref>