Standard Book Number (ISBN)

An International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a unique identifier assigned to each published book or edition, much like a fingerprint. It helps publishers, booksellers, libraries, and readers quickly and accurately identify a specific book, its edition, and publisher. Typically a 13-digit code (originally 10 digits before 2007), the ISBN includes information about the publisher, title, and edition. This system simplifies inventory management, ordering, and cataloging, ensuring that the exact version of a book can be easily found and distinguished from others.