tnum

tnum is not a term with a single, universal definition. In practice, it appears as a short variable or identifier used in various computing and data-management contexts to denote a numeric identifier attached to an item or operation. Common interpretations include temporary number, transaction number, or token number, depending on domain.

As a temporary number, tnum may be assigned to records, sessions, or draft entities while they are in transit or awaiting finalization. As a transaction number, it serves to uniquely identify a discrete operation in processing pipelines, databases, payment systems, or messaging queues. As a token number, it can appear in authentication or session-management schemes, though many systems use separate token or nonce concepts.

Characteristics of tnum typically include being stored as an integer or short string and generated automatically by the database, application logic, or a global-id system. Uniqueness is important within the relevant scope, and measures may be needed to prevent collisions. The lifespan of a tnum varies: temporary numbers may be discarded or replaced, while transaction numbers often persist for auditing and traceability.

In practice, tnum appears across software development, data integration, finance, logistics, and telecommunications as a practical naming convention rather than a formal standard. When encountered, the exact meaning should be inferred from accompanying documentation or code comments to avoid ambiguity.

See also: identifier, UUID, transaction ID, session token.