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Luhn algorithm

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The Luhn algorithm, also known as the modulus 10 or mod 10 algorithm, is a simple checksum formula used to validate a variety of identification numbers, such as credit card numbers, IMEI numbers, Canadian Social Insurance Numbers. The LUHN formula was created in the late 1960s by a group of mathematicians. Shortly thereafter, credit card companies adopted it. Because the algorithm is in the public domain, it can be used by anyone. Most credit cards and many government identification numbers use the algorithm as a simple method of distinguishing valid numbers from mistyped or otherwise incorrect numbers. It was designed to protect against accidental errors, not malicious attacks.

Steps involved in the Luhn algorithm

Let’s understand the algorithm with an example: 
Consider the example of an account number “79927398713“. 

Step 1 – Starting from the rightmost digit, double the value of every second digit, 

Step 2 – If doubling of a number results in a two digit number i.e greater than 9(e.g., 6 × 2 = 12), then add the digits of the product (e.g., 12: 1 + 2 = 3, 15: 1 + 5 = 6), to get a single digit number. 

Step 3 – Now take the sum of all the digits.

Step 4 – If the total modulo 10 is equal to 0 (if the total ends in zero) then the number is valid according to the Luhn formula; else it is not valid.
 

Since the sum is 70 which is a multiple of 10, the account number is possibly valid. 

The idea is simple; we traverse from the end. For every second digit, we double it before adding it. We add two digits of the number obtained after doubling.  

Implementation:

C++




// C++ program to implement Luhn algorithm
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
 
// Returns true if given card number is valid
bool checkLuhn(const string& cardNo)
{
    int nDigits = cardNo.length();
 
    int nSum = 0, isSecond = false;
    for (int i = nDigits - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
 
        int d = cardNo[i] - '0';
 
        if (isSecond == true)
            d = d * 2;
 
        // We add two digits to handle
        // cases that make two digits after
        // doubling
        nSum += d / 10;
        nSum += d % 10;
 
        isSecond = !isSecond;
    }
    return (nSum % 10 == 0);
}
 
// Driver code
int main()
{
    string cardNo = "79927398713";
    if (checkLuhn(cardNo))
        printf("This is a valid card");
    else
        printf("This is not a valid card");
    return 0;
}


Java




// Java program to implement
// Luhn algorithm
import java.io.*;
 
class GFG {
     
// Returns true if given
// card number is valid
static boolean checkLuhn(String cardNo)
{
    int nDigits = cardNo.length();
 
    int nSum = 0;
    boolean isSecond = false;
    for (int i = nDigits - 1; i >= 0; i--)
    {
 
        int d = cardNo.charAt(i) - '0';
 
        if (isSecond == true)
            d = d * 2;
 
        // We add two digits to handle
        // cases that make two digits
        // after doubling
        nSum += d / 10;
        nSum += d % 10;
 
        isSecond = !isSecond;
    }
    return (nSum % 10 == 0);
}
 
    // Driver code
    static public void main (String[] args)
    {
        String cardNo = "79927398713";
        if (checkLuhn(cardNo))
            System.out.println("This is a valid card");
        else
            System.out.println("This is not a valid card");
     
    }
}
 
// This Code is contributed by vt_m.


Python3




# Python3 program to implement
# Luhn algorithm
 
# Returns true if given card
# number is valid
def checkLuhn(cardNo):
     
    nDigits = len(cardNo)
    nSum = 0
    isSecond = False
     
    for i in range(nDigits - 1, -1, -1):
        d = ord(cardNo[i]) - ord('0')
     
        if (isSecond == True):
            d = d * 2
  
        # We add two digits to handle
        # cases that make two digits after
        # doubling
        nSum += d // 10
        nSum += d % 10
  
        isSecond = not isSecond
     
    if (nSum % 10 == 0):
        return True
    else:
        return False
 
# Driver code  
if __name__=="__main__":
     
    cardNo = "79927398713"
     
    if (checkLuhn(cardNo)):
        print("This is a valid card")
    else:
        print("This is not a valid card")
 
# This code is contributed by rutvik_56


C#




// C# program to implement
// Luhn algorithm
using System;
 
class GFG {
     
// Returns true if given
// card number is valid
static bool checkLuhn(String cardNo)
{
    int nDigits = cardNo.Length;
 
    int nSum = 0;
    bool isSecond = false;
    for (int i = nDigits - 1; i >= 0; i--)
    {
 
         int d = cardNo[i] - '0';
 
        if (isSecond == true)
            d = d * 2;
 
        // We add two digits to handle
        // cases that make two digits
        // after doubling
        nSum += d / 10;
        nSum += d % 10;
 
        isSecond = !isSecond;
    }
    return (nSum % 10 == 0);
}
 
    // Driver code
    static public void Main()
    {
        String cardNo = "79927398713";
        if (checkLuhn(cardNo))
            Console.WriteLine("This is a valid card");
        else
            Console.WriteLine("This is not a valid card");
     
    }
}
 
// This Code is contributed by vt_m.


Javascript




<script>
    // Javascript program to implement Luhn algorithm
     
    // Returns true if given
    // card number is valid
    function checkLuhn(cardNo)
    {
        let nDigits = cardNo.length;
 
        let nSum = 0;
        let isSecond = false;
        for (let i = nDigits - 1; i >= 0; i--)
        {
 
            let d = cardNo[i].charCodeAt() - '0'.charCodeAt();
 
            if (isSecond == true)
                d = d * 2;
 
            // We add two digits to handle
            // cases that make two digits
            // after doubling
            nSum += parseInt(d / 10, 10);
            nSum += d % 10;
 
            isSecond = !isSecond;
        }
        return (nSum % 10 == 0);
    }
     
    let cardNo = "79927398713";
    if (checkLuhn(cardNo))
      document.write("This is a valid card");
    else
      document.write("This is not a valid card");
     
</script>


Output

This is a valid card

The Luhn algorithm detects any single-digit error, as well as almost all transpositions of adjacent digits. 

 



Last Updated : 19 Jul, 2022
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