SBN, or Standard Book Number, is a unique identifier for books, allowing for easier cataloging and sales tracking. It typically consists of 10 or 13 digits and helps publishers, booksellers, and libraries manage their inventory efficiently. The SBN system was introduced in the 1970s and has become a standard in the publishing industry. The SBN is often confused with ISBN, which stands for International Standard Book Number. While SBN is a general term, ISBN specifically refers to the international standard used globally. Both systems serve the same purpose of identifying books, but ISBN is the more widely recognized term today.