LUHN Algorithm in C# (Validate Credit Card)

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008 at 9:46 pm by Jiltin
Filed under: Web & Scripts 

The Luhn algorithm or Luhn formula, 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 and Canadian Social Insurance Numbers.

The formula verifies a number against its included check digit, which is usually appended to a partial account number to generate the full account number. This account number must pass the following test:

1. Counting from rightmost digit (which is the check digit) and moving left, Double the value of every alternate digit. For any digits that thus become 10 or more, take the two numbers and add them together. For example, 1111 becomes 2121, while 8763 becomes 7733 (from 2×6=12 → 1+2=3 and 2×8=16 → 1+6=7).
2. Add all these digits together. For example, if 1111 becomes 2121, then 2+1+2+1 is 6; and 8763 becomes 7733, so 7+7+3+3 is 20.
3. If the total ends in 0 (put another way, if the total modulus 10 is congruent to 0), then the number is valid according to the Luhn formula; else it is not valid. So, 1111 is not valid (as shown above, it comes out to 6), while 8763 is valid (as shown above, it comes out to 20).

/// <summary>
/// Validates a credit card number using the standard Luhn/mod10
/// validation algorithm.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="cardNumber">Card number, with or without
///        punctuation</param>
/// <returns>True if card number appears valid, false if not
/// </returns>
public bool IsCreditCardValid(string cardNumber)
{
   const string allowed = "0123456789";
   int i;

   StringBuilder cleanNumber = new StringBuilder();
   for (i = 0; i < cardNumber.Length; i++)
   {
      if (allowed.IndexOf(cardNumber.Substring(i, 1)) >= 0)
         cleanNumber.Append(cardNumber.Substring(i, 1));
   }
   if (cleanNumber.Length < 13 || cleanNumber.Length > 16)
      return false;

   for (i = cleanNumber.Length + 1; i <= 16; i++)
      cleanNumber.Insert(0, "0");

   int multiplier, digit, sum, total = 0;
   string number = cleanNumber.ToString();

   for (i = 1; i <= 16; i++)
   {
      multiplier = 1 + (i % 2);
      digit = int.Parse(number.Substring(i - 1, 1));
      sum = digit * multiplier;
      if (sum > 9)
         sum -= 9;
      total += sum;
   }
   return (total % 10 == 0);
}

How To Generate Valid Credit Card Numbers

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