---
title: "What is Number portability?"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/glossary/number-portability.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/glossary/number-portability"
last_updated: "2026-10-18"
type: "conceptual"
summary: "Number portability is the right to keep your phone number when you change provider, or move it between a mobile and a landline service."
related: ["https://lookvalid.com/glossary/lrn.md", "https://lookvalid.com/glossary/carrier-lookup.md", "https://lookvalid.com/glossary/area-code.md", "https://lookvalid.com/glossary/line-type.md", "https://lookvalid.com/products/phone.md", "https://lookvalid.com/products/carrier-lookup.md"]
---

# What is Number portability?

Number portability is the right to keep your phone number when you change provider, or move it between a mobile and a landline service.

It is why a number's area code and prefix describe where and with whom the number started, not where it is now or who serves it. A mobile number from one city is routinely used by someone in another, on a different carrier.

For validation, portability sets the limit of what the numbering plan can tell you. It can confirm that a number has a valid shape and what kind of range it came from. Anything about the current carrier or whether the line is active needs live carrier data.

## Related

- [What is LRN (Location Routing Number)?](https://lookvalid.com/glossary/lrn.md)
- [What is Carrier lookup?](https://lookvalid.com/glossary/carrier-lookup.md)
- [What is Area code?](https://lookvalid.com/glossary/area-code.md)
- [What is Line type?](https://lookvalid.com/glossary/line-type.md)
- [Phone Numbering-Plan Validation API](https://lookvalid.com/products/phone.md)
- [Carrier Lookup (original carrier) API](https://lookvalid.com/products/carrier-lookup.md)