# Smart number

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{{Short description|Synthetic unique identifier that communicates additional information}}
{{unreferenced|date=December 2013}}
A '''smart number''' is any synthetic unique identifier that communicates additional information about the entity identified. The ''smart number'' is conceptually similar to a [superkey](/source/superkey) as defined in the [relational model](/source/relational_model) of [database](/source/database) organization, but, is intended to inform [end users](/source/End-user) about status of accounts. The term has fallen out of common usage since using one number to carry so much information is considered bad practice.

Common examples of smart numbers in use today include:

* [Credit card numbers](/source/Credit_card_numbers), which contain information about the credit issuing company.
* Auto insurance account numbers – vary by company but may contain information such as billing date, account status, and modification count.

The term ''smart number'' may also apply to non-geographic telephone numbers, such as Australia's 13, 1300 and 1800 [vanity number](/source/vanity_number)s and [freephone numbers](/source/toll-free_telephone_number). See [Intelligent Network](/source/Intelligent_Network).

==References==
{{Reflist}}

Category:Numbers
Category:Identification

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Smart number](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_number) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_number?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.