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ISBN Validator

Validators

Validate ISBN-10 and ISBN-13 numbers for correctness.

⚡ Instant🔒 Private, in your browser🆓 Free, no sign-up👥 For developers
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What ISBN Validator does

The ISBN Validator checks an ISBN-10 or ISBN-13 against its check-digit calculation, accepting hyphens and spaces. It tells you which format the number is, shows whether the check digit is correct and, for valid ISBN-13s starting with 978, gives the ISBN-10 equivalent. Results appear as you type, in your browser.

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Reviewed by the FreeToolsVerse team · Last updated · How we check our tools

How to use ISBN Validator

  1. Type or paste the ISBN, with or without hyphens
  2. The result appears instantly as you type
  3. See whether it is a valid ISBN-10 or ISBN-13 and whether the check digit is correct
  4. If it fails, compare it with the number printed on the book and re-enter it

Who should use it

Made for developers. Typical uses:

  • Verifying an ISBN typed from a book's back cover before entering it into inventory software
  • Checking ISBNs in a bulk catalog import for typos before publishing
  • Confirming a number is a correctly formed ISBN-13 before listing it on a retailer platform

Limitations and accuracy

It checks that the number is well formed. It does not look the book up, so a valid ISBN may not correspond to a published title. 979-prefix ISBN-13s have no ISBN-10 equivalent.

Accuracy: Checks follow the published rules for each format. A passing result is a strong signal, not a guarantee that every system will accept the input.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between ISBN-10 and ISBN-13?
ISBN-10 was the standard until 2007 and ends with a check digit that can be X. ISBN-13 replaced it, matches the EAN barcode and starts with 978 or 979.
What is a check digit?
The last digit, calculated from the others, so a mistyped or swapped digit is detected. The validator recomputes it and compares.
Does it convert ISBN-10 to ISBN-13?
For a valid ISBN-13 starting with 978 it shows the ISBN-10 equivalent; 979 numbers have none.
Is my data sent anywhere?
No. The check runs in your browser.

Learning resources

Explore more in Validators, read the guides and articles, or see how we test our tools.

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