Sender ID
Definition
The name or number shown as the sender of a text message, such as a short code, a phone number or a brand name.
Sender ID, explained
The sender ID is what appears in the From field of a text. It can be a regular phone number, a short code, a toll-free number, or an alphanumeric name such as a company brand. In the UK and many other countries, businesses can send from a brand name, while in the US and Canada alphanumeric sender IDs are generally not supported and texts arrive from numbers. Sender IDs can be spoofed in some networks, so a familiar name does not prove a message is genuine. Treat unexpected texts asking for a code or a link as possible smishing.
Related terms
Short code
A 5 or 6 digit number that businesses use to send high-volume texts such as verification codes and alerts.
Smishing
Phishing by text message: a fake SMS that tries to get you to click a link, share a code or send money.
SMS verification
Confirming that you control a phone number by entering a code the service texts to it.
Where you'll meet this term
How to Receive SMS From Short Codes
What SMS short codes are in the US, Canada and UK, why codes from them sometimes don't arrive on VoIP or foreign numbers, and what to try.
Read the guide →DevelopersUsing virtual numbers to test SMS flows
How QA teams use real virtual numbers to test SMS sign-up and OTP flows end to end, when to use them vs test numbers, and how to automate with an API.
Read the guide →DevelopersTesting OTP and SMS sign-up flows in staging
Run end-to-end tests of your app's SMS sign-up in staging with real temporary numbers: Playwright example, what to check and how to keep costs low.
Read the guide →Safety & privacySMS sender ID spoofing: what it is and how to spot a fake text
What SMS sender ID spoofing is, why a scam text can show a real brand's name, how the US, Canada and UK fight it, and how to tell a fake message apart.
Read the guide →