How SA ID Validation Works

Our validation process is instant, secure, and happens entirely in your browser. Here's the technical breakdown.

1

Enter ID Number

You enter a 13-digit South African ID number into our validator. The input accepts numbers only and automatically formats as you type.

8501015009087
2

Client-Side Processing

Our JavaScript algorithm runs entirely in your browser. The ID number never leaves your device—no data is sent to any server.

Length check (13 digits)
Date validation
Luhn checksum
3

Instant Results

Within milliseconds, you see the validation result along with extracted demographic information.

✓ Valid ID Number
Birth: 15 January 1985
Age: 40 years
Gender: Male
Citizenship: SA Citizen

Technical Details

Luhn Algorithm

The checksum digit (digit 13) is validated using the Luhn algorithm, also known as the "modulus 10" algorithm. This detects any single-digit error and most transposition errors.

Learn more about the Luhn algorithm →

Date Parsing

We extract the date of birth from digits 1-6 (YYMMDD format) and validate it's a real date. The century is determined using a sliding window based on the current year.

Example: 850115 → 15 January 1985

Zero Server Communication

All validation happens client-side in JavaScript. No network requests are made during validation. Your ID data never touches our servers.

100% POPIA compliant by design

Sub-Millisecond Performance

Our validation algorithm executes in under 1 millisecond on modern devices. Bulk validation can process thousands of IDs per second.

Optimised for both desktop and mobile

Try It Yourself

Validate SA ID Number

Enter a 13-digit South African ID number to verify

0/13
POPIA Compliant
100% Private
No Data Stored

Security & Compliance

POPIA Compliant

We process no personal data on our servers, ensuring full compliance with South Africa's data protection laws.

Zero Data Storage

ID numbers are processed in memory and immediately discarded. Nothing is ever logged, cached, or stored.

Open Algorithm

Our validation uses the standard Luhn algorithm. No proprietary black boxes—you can verify our method yourself.

Ready to Integrate?

Use our API to add ID validation to your applications