Kennnummer

Kennnummer is a German term used for an identification number or reference code that uniquely identifies a person, document, account, or transaction within a system. It is not tied to a single standard; the exact meaning and format depend on the organization and context.

In everyday use, Kennnummern appear in banking, administration, information technology, logistics, and customer service. They can serve as access codes, record identifiers, or reference numbers in correspondence and online portals. Often they are used together with other identifiers such as name or date of birth to locate or verify a record.

The term is distinct from, but sometimes conflated with, other identifiers like Kundennummer (customer number) or Kontonummer (account number). Some institutions may use Kennnummer interchangeably as an internal identifier or a general term for a reference number, while others prefer more specific terms such as Identifikationsnummer or Kundennummer to avoid ambiguity.

Formats of Kennnummern vary widely between systems. They can be numeric or alphanumeric and may include check digits or separators. The length and structure are determined by the issuing organization and the intended use.

Security and privacy considerations are important with Kennnummern. Because they function as identifiers, their disclosure can enable misuse if paired with insufficient authentication. In many contexts, a Kennnummer is used together with passwords, PINs, or two-factor authentication to reduce risk.

Examples can include a bank’s internal customer identifier, a government service reference number for a request, or an employee identifier in a corporate IT system. The term reflects the broad German-speaking use of identification numbers across sectors.