BIN Range Explorer
How a network allocates a block of prefixes to an issuer, how the size of that block relates to how many cards can be issued, and what the boundaries mean.
How this tool works
The range explorer takes a start prefix and shows the allocation that follows it: the end of the block, how many prefixes it holds, which issuer and product it was allocated for, and the next block along. It exists because the structure of an allocation is something you can only see by walking along it.
Walking a range is how you spot an issuer's footprint. A long run of contiguous blocks in one product tells you an issuer is active in a market; a gap followed by an unrelated issuer tells you the allocation was reassigned. It is also the fastest way to see how a network divides its prefix space between issuers.
What the explorer shows
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Starting prefix | 400000 |
| Block end | 400999 |
| Block size | 1,000 prefixes |
| Issuer | The institution holding the allocation |
| Next block | The following allocation along the range |
Blocks usually begin on a multiple of ten in the last digit, which is why allocations align the way they do.
When to use it
- Map how a network divides its prefix space between issuers
- See whether an issuer's allocation is contiguous or scattered
- Find the boundary between two issuers' allocations
- Understand how reassignment shows up in the data
Frequently asked questions
What does the range explorer do?
It walks the allocation structure from a starting prefix, showing each block, its size, the issuer that holds it and the block that follows.
Why do blocks start on multiples of ten?
Because the networks allocate in standard-sized units, so the boundaries fall on round prefixes. That alignment is what makes the allocation structure legible.
What does a gap in the sequence mean?
Either the prefix space has not been allocated in that gap, or a range has been released and reassigned to a different issuer. The explorer shows the issuer either side, which distinguishes the two.
Can I see an issuer's whole allocation from this tool?
Not in one view, but starting at a prefix the issuer holds and walking forward will show the extent of their contiguous blocks, and the issuer pages list every prefix they hold in one table.
Is the allocation structure the same in every market?
No. Each network and each region allocates differently, and the shape of the space is a property of the market rather than of the standard.