A LinkedIn profile ID is a unique identifier assigned to each member’s profile on the LinkedIn platform. The profile ID has a specific format that consists of a combination of numbers and letters. Understanding the structure of a LinkedIn profile ID can help identify and differentiate between profiles on the platform.
Components of a LinkedIn Profile ID
A LinkedIn profile ID consists of two main components:
- A prefix
- A unique ID string
Prefix
The prefix for all LinkedIn profile IDs is ‘in/’. This indicates that the ID belongs to a LinkedIn profile. The ‘in/’ prefix is followed by the unique ID string.
Unique ID String
The unique ID string consists of a combination of numbers and lowercase and uppercase English alphabet letters. This string is randomly generated and assigned to each member upon profile creation. It uniquely identifies each profile on LinkedIn.
The unique ID string can contain up to 30 characters. However, most profile IDs contain around 10-12 characters in the unique ID string.
LinkedIn Profile ID Format
Combining the prefix and unique ID string gives us the standard format for a LinkedIn profile ID:
in/[unique ID string of up to 30 characters]
Here are some examples of valid LinkedIn profile IDs:
- in/john-doe123
- in/jane.doe
- in/0123456789abcdef
As seen above, the unique ID string can include:-
- Lowercase letters (a-z)
- Uppercase letters (A-Z)
- Numbers (0-9)
- Special characters (-, _, .)
Where to Find LinkedIn Profile ID
The LinkedIn profile ID is not immediately visible on a profile page. But there are a couple of ways to find it:
Profile URL
The easiest way is to look at the profile URL when viewing your or someone else’s profile. For example:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-doe123/
The unique ID string appears in the URL path, after ‘/in/’. In this example, the profile ID is ‘in/john-doe123’.
Public Profile Settings
You can also find the profile ID from the public profile settings:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile
- Click on the ‘More’ icon near the top right
- Select ‘Settings & Privacy’
- Go to the ‘Profile’ tab
- Under ‘Your public profile URL’, you will see the full profile ID
Uses of LinkedIn Profile ID
Here are some common uses for LinkedIn profile IDs:
Customizing Profile URL
By default, your profile URL contains your name. But you can customize it to instead contain your profile ID or a custom name/username.
Analytics and Tracking
Services that integrate with LinkedIn’s API often use profile IDs to uniquely identify members and track analytics.
Searching Profiles
You can search for LinkedIn profiles directly using the profile ID instead of name/username. This returns the exact match.
Profile Verification
LinkedIn profiles with custom URLs can be verified by checking the ID contained in the URL path matches the ID on the profile page.
Limitations of Profile ID
While the profile ID uniquely identifies a LinkedIn profile, there are some limitations to its use:
- Profile IDs are not memorable or human-friendly for use in marketing or branding.
- IDs can only be used to access public information. Private data requires authentication.
- Profile IDs are not reusable. A deleted profile’s ID cannot be assigned to a new profile.
- There are no guarantees a user will maintain the same custom URL. They can change it at any time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my LinkedIn profile ID?
No, the profile ID cannot be changed once assigned by LinkedIn upon profile creation. However, you can customize your public profile URL to use a custom username instead of the default ID.
Does every LinkedIn user have a unique profile ID?
Yes, all LinkedIn members are assigned a unique profile ID when they create their account and profile.
Can a LinkedIn profile ID be deleted or deactivated?
No, LinkedIn profile IDs are permanent identifiers. They remain associated with the user even if the profile is deleted, as they cannot be reused or reassigned to other profiles.
Can I search LinkedIn profiles using the profile ID?
Yes, using advanced search operators you can directly look up profiles using the ‘in/’ prefix and ID. For example: site:linkedin.com “in/john-doe123”
What are some common ways profile IDs are used in practice?
LinkedIn profile IDs enable customized vanity URLs, analytics and tracking in apps, search and lookup of profiles, and verification of profile authenticity when used in custom URLs.
Conclusion
The LinkedIn profile ID is an automatically generated unique identifier assigned to each member profile on the platform. It consists of a standard ‘in/’ prefix followed by a random string of up to 30 alphanumeric characters.
While not displayed prominently, the ID can be found in the profile URL or public profile settings. It enables customized URLs, analytics, profile search and verification. However, profile IDs have limitations like lack of memorability and permanence.
Understanding the LinkedIn profile ID format and uses allows for better utilization of LinkedIn profiles in applications, analytics and branding.
So in summary:
- LinkedIn profile IDs follow the format ‘in/[unique ID string]’
- The ID string contains up to 30 random alphanumeric characters
- Profile IDs are permanent and cannot be changed
- IDs uniquely identify profiles and enable custom URLs, analytics, search and verification
With this foundation, you can now fully leverage LinkedIn profile IDs in your applications and services.
Profile ID Prefix | ID String Length | ID String Characters |
---|---|---|
in/ | Up to 30 | Lowercase letters (a-z) |
Uppercase letters (A-Z) | ||
Numbers (0-9) | ||
Special characters (-, _, .) |
Here are some sample profile IDs:
Profile ID |
---|
in/john-doe123 |
in/jane.doe |
in/0123456789abcdef |
Related Questions
How can I find someone’s LinkedIn profile ID?
To find someone’s LinkedIn profile ID:
- Go to their LinkedIn profile page
- Check the URL – the ID will be after ‘in/’
- Or go to their profile settings and look under public profile URL
What are vanity URLs and how do they relate to LinkedIn profile ID?
Vanity URLs are custom profile URLs using a memorable username instead of the default profile ID. Users can set these in their profile settings, but the underlying permanent profile ID remains unchanged.
Can someone ‘take’ a LinkedIn profile ID that used to belong to a deleted profile?
No, LinkedIn profile IDs are permanently associated with the original profile they were assigned to. Even if that profile is deleted, the ID cannot be reused or reassigned to a new profile.
How do I include someone’s LinkedIn profile ID on a webpage or resume?
Simply copy their profile ID from their LinkedIn URL or profile settings, and add it anywhere you want to link to their profile. Use the full URL format – linkedin.com/in/profile-id – to create a clickable link.
Is it possible to search for someone on Google using their LinkedIn profile ID?
Yes, you can search Google for ‘site:linkedin.com “in/profile-id”‘ replacing profile-id with the actual ID string, to directly find their LinkedIn profile in Google search results.
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