Part number
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A part number is an identifier of a particular part design or material used in a particular industry. Its purpose is to simplify reference that item. A part number unambiguously identifies a part design within a single corporation. Sometimes across several corporations.
For example, when specifying a screw, it is easier to refer to "HSC0424PP" than saying "Hardware, screw, machine, 4-40, 3/4" long, pan head, Phillips". In this example, "HSC0424PP" is the part number. It may be prefixed in database fields as "PN HSC0424PP" or "P/N HSC0424PP". The "Part Number" term is often used loosely to refer to items or components, and it's equivalent to "Item Number", and overlaps with other terms like SKU.
Parts marked with assined part numbers
Serial number
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A serial number is a unique identifier used to uniquely identify an item, and is usually assigned incrementally or sequentially.
Traveller's cheques, a kind of insured cash money in form of a paper cheque, are sold to customers in sets having consecutive numbers - one of the very few type of items where consumers have access to "serialized" similar things.
Serial number on a semi-automatic pistol
Serial number of a laptop computer
The RAF serial (XG900) on the Short SC.1