ORCID Validator
ValidatorValidate ORCID researcher iDs. Checks the 16-character format and recomputes the ISO 7064 MOD 11-2 check character. Runs entirely in your browser.
About this tool
About ORCID Validator
An ORCID iD is a 16-digit identifier, written as 0000-0000-0000-000X, that uniquely and persistently identifies an individual researcher or contributor to scholarly and scientific work — distinguishing authors with common names and linking their publications, grants, and datasets across different systems. This validator confirms the format and recomputes the check character to verify the iD is internally consistent.
The validator strips whitespace and hyphens, verifies the 16-character format (15 digits followed by a digit or the letter X), and applies the ISO 7064 MOD 11-2 pure system check: for each of the first 15 digits, running total = (total + digit) × 2, then the check character is (12 − (total mod 11)) mod 11 — with a result of 10 represented as the letter X.
Use this to verify an ORCID iD collected on a manuscript submission form, grant application, or author profile before using it in a downstream system, to debug why an ORCID iD is being rejected by a validation layer, or to sanity-check an iD copied from a researcher's profile or publication byline.
Instant, fully client-side validation with no data ever leaving your browser. Note this checks structural validity only — it does not confirm the iD is actually registered to a real researcher, which requires a lookup against the ORCID registry.
Key Features
- Full 16-character format validation
- Handles the special 'X' check character case
- ISO 7064 MOD 11-2 check character computation
- Clear error messages for each failure mode
- Verified against ORCID's own published example iD
- 100% browser-based, no data ever transmitted
FAQ
ORCID Validator — Frequently Asked Questions
What is an ORCID iD?
ORCID iD is a 16-digit identifier that uniquely and persistently identifies a researcher or scholarly contributor. It solves the problem of author name ambiguity — many researchers share common names, change names, or publish under name variants — by giving each person a single, permanent identifier that stays linked to their work across journals, publishers, and funders.
How is the ORCID check character calculated?
Using the ISO 7064 MOD 11-2 pure system: starting from a running total of 0, for each of the first 15 digits, update the total as (total + digit) × 2. After processing all 15 digits, take the total mod 11, and the check character is (12 minus that remainder) mod 11 — with a result of 10 represented as the letter X.
Why does an ORCID iD sometimes end in the letter X?
Because the check character calculation can produce a value of 10, which isn't a single digit. The letter X is used to represent that value, the same convention used by ISBN-10 and ISSN.
Why does my ORCID iD fail validation?
The most common cause is a single mistyped or transposed digit. Also confirm the iD is exactly 16 characters (15 digits plus a check digit or X), with or without the hyphens.
Does a valid ORCID iD mean the researcher is verified?
No. This validator only confirms the iD is structurally well-formed and its check character is correct. It does not confirm the iD belongs to a real, registered researcher — that requires a lookup against the ORCID registry itself.
Tips
- Strip the hyphens before validating if your source formats the iD as 0000-0000-0000-000X — this tool accepts it either way
- If the check character fails, try re-copying the iD from its original source — the most common error is a single transposed digit
- A trailing X is not an error — it's the standard way to represent a check value of 10
- This validator never sends your ORCID iD anywhere — the check character is recomputed entirely in your browser
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