An Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) is a 10-character alphanumeric unique identifier assigned by Amazon.com and its partners for product identification within the Amazon organization.[1] They were designed in 1996 by Rebecca Allen, an Amazon software engineer, when it became clear that Amazon was going to sell products other than just books. The 10-character format of the ASIN was adopted so that Amazon databases and software, which were designed to expect a 10-character International Standard Book Number (ISBN) field, would not have to be changed to accommodate the new identification format.[2]
Usage and structure
editEach product on Amazon.com is given a unique ASIN. For books with a 10-digit International Standard Book Number (ISBN), the ASIN and the ISBN are the same.[3] The Kindle edition of a book will not use its ISBN as the ASIN, although the electronic version of a book may have its own ISBN. The ASIN forms part of the URL of a product detail page on Amazon's website.[4]
References
edit
- ^ "Product UPCs and GTINs". Amazon Seller Central. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ Allen, Rebecca (8 June 2021). "The Story behind ASINs". Invent Like an Owner. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ "FAQ: ISBN-13 for Amazon Associates". Affiliate-Program.Amazon.com. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
- ^ "Find a Product's ASIN – Amazon Hacks [Book]". www.oreilly.com. Retrieved 26 December 2019.