# What is a number lookup API?

> A number lookup API returns intelligence about a phone number in real time — whether it is valid and active, which country and operator it belongs to, whether it has been ported, and its line type. It queries the operator's HLR (or a number-intelligence database) so you can clean lists, route correctly, price accurately, and screen for fraud before you spend on a message or a call.

- Canonical URL: https://www.broadnet.me/answers/number-lookup-api-explained
- Language: en
- Last reviewed: 2026-07-22
- Publisher: BroadNet (https://www.broadnet.me)

## What it tells you

Validity and reachability, current operator and country, ported status (via MNP), and often line type (mobile, landline, VoIP). That lets you drop dead numbers and route to the right network. See /answers/what-is-hlr-lookup and /answers/what-is-mnp.

## Why it saves money

Sending to invalid or wrong-country numbers wastes spend and depresses delivery rates; a lookup removes them before you pay. On large lists this is a direct, measurable saving. See /answers/how-to-reduce-sms-costs.

## Fraud and risk screening

Line type and porting signals help flag high-risk numbers — for example freshly-ported numbers in an account-takeover pattern — before an OTP or transaction proceeds. See /answers/telecom-fraud-prevention.

## How to use it

Validate at signup and before large campaigns, cache results sensibly, and combine with your OTP and routing logic. See /products/hlr-lookup and /answers/how-to-send-international-sms.

## Related

- [All answers](https://www.broadnet.me/answers)
- [Glossary](https://www.broadnet.me/answers)
- [What is HLR Lookup?](https://www.broadnet.me/answers/what-is-hlr-lookup)
- [What is MNP (Mobile Number Portability)?](https://www.broadnet.me/answers/what-is-mnp)
- [How does HLR lookup and MNP number intelligence work?](https://www.broadnet.me/answers/hlr-mnp-number-intelligence)
- [How does telecom fraud prevention work?](https://www.broadnet.me/answers/telecom-fraud-prevention)
- [HLR Lookup](https://www.broadnet.me/products/hlr-lookup)
- [Phone reputation](https://www.broadnet.me/products/phone-reputation)