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Personal identification number

nouncandidate·updated May 12, 2026

A secret that a claimant memorizes and uses to authenticate his or her identity. PINs are generally only decimal digits.

Framework senses

ISACA Cybersecurity Glossary1 senseview framework →
§1
A type of password (i.e., a secret number assigned to an individual) that, in conjunction with some means of identifying the individual, serves to verify the authenticity of the individual Scope Note: PINs have been adopted by financial institutions as the primary means of verifying customers in an electronic funds transfer (EFT) system.
NISTIR 7298: Glossary of Key Information Security Terms, Revision 24 sensesview framework →
§1
A password consisting only of decimal digits.
§2 · sense_2_pending_review
A secret that a claimant memorizes and uses to authenticate his or her identity. PINs are generally only decimal digits.
§3 · sense_3_pending_review
An alphanumeric code or password used to authenticate an identity.
§4 · sense_4_pending_review
A short numeric code used to confirm identity.
CNSSI-4009 (Glossary of Information Assurance Terms)1 senseview framework →
§1
A short numeric code used to confirm identity.
NIST SP 800-631 senseview framework →
§1
A password consisting only of decimal digits.
FIPS PUB 140-21 senseview framework →
§1
An alphanumeric code or password used to authenticate an identity.
FIPS PUB 2011 senseview framework →
§1
A secret that a claimant memorizes and uses to authenticate his or her identity. PINs are generally only decimal digits.