ISBN Validator (ISBN-10 and ISBN-13)

What is ISBN Validator?

The International Standard Book Number identifies one edition of a book. Since 2007 the standard form has 13 digits, beginning with the prefix 978 or 979, followed by a group for the country or language area, the publisher, the title and a final check digit. Older books carry a 10-digit ISBN.

The ISBN-13 check digit is calculated exactly like an EAN-13: digits are weighted alternately 1 and 3 and the check brings the total to a multiple of 10. The ISBN-10 uses a different rule: the ten digits are weighted from 10 down to 1, and the total must be divisible by 11. When the check equals 10 it is written as the letter X, so an ISBN-10 may end in X.

To convert an ISBN-10, drop its check digit, put 978 in front of the remaining nine digits and calculate a new ISBN-13 check digit. For example 0-306-40615-2 becomes 978-0-306-40615-7. The reverse conversion only works for numbers starting with 978, because 979 numbers have no ISBN-10 equivalent.

When should you use it?

• You are entering a book into a shop, library or catalogue and want to be sure the number was typed correctly.
• A platform asks for an ISBN-13 but your old edition only shows an ISBN-10.
• You are about to print a barcode for a book and need to confirm the number first.
• You are cleaning a spreadsheet of book numbers that mixes hyphenated and plain formats.

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