UNB ECE4253 Digital Communications
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering - University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada

LUHN-10 Error Detection Tool

Error control codes can be implemented within written values such as account numbers and price tags by appending a single check digit according to the LUHN-10 Algorithm.

This particular algorithm is part of a standard (ISO-7812-1) used worldwide for various credit cards. (Specific Applications)


LUHN-10 Check Calculation

Checking [201773]

  2   0   1   7   7   3  
 x2  x1  x2  x1  x2  x1  
 --  --  --  --  --  --  
  4   0   2   7  14   3  
  4 + 0 + 2 + 7 + 5 + 3  = 21

21 ≡ 1 (mod 10)

The test FAILED since the result (1) is not zero. In the above summation, any two-digit product is included as the sum of its two digits. (e.g. 14 --> 1 + 4 = 5)

A single wrong digit within a valid number will always be caught by this test.


Check a LUHN-10 coded number by entering it in the box below. Spaces may be used as desired.
      MATLAB

2025-06-03 08:17:06 ADT
Last Updated: 2015-03-05
Richard Tervo [ tervo@unb.ca ] Back to the course homepage...