original_query: What is a payment card number?
query: What is a payment card number?
answer: A payment card number, also known as a primary account number (PAN) or card number, is a unique identifier found on payment cards like credit, debit, stored-value, and gift cards.  It's primarily used to identify the card and doesn't directly reveal the linked bank account(s). The number's prefix identifies the issuer, while the following digits identify the cardholder, linking them to their accounts (for reloadable prepaid cards).