The clone troopers who came before the stormtroopers were not given names at birth but were given identification codes that resemble TK numbers. In Star Wars: A New Hope, Han Solo is asked for his operating number, and while that might seem simple there is a rich history behind these codes. In short, the TK numbers are simply a specific Imperial code used to identify military personnel. Related: Star Wars: Does Stormtrooper Armor Actually Provide Protection?

The TK numbers are first referenced when Luke Skywalker infiltrates the Death Star disguised as a stormtrooper that is known as “TK-421.” In The Mandalorian, a tense scene shows Din Djarin, disguised as an Imperial Juggernaut Pilot and sneaking around an enemy base when an Imperial Officer named Valin Hess asks him for his TK number. In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Finn used a variation on a TK number as he was originally known as “FN-2187.” So these numbers have always been present, but what do they mean for the Empire, and how does the idea behind them change for the First Order? Here’s everything you need to know about TK numbers in The Mandalorian and beyond.

“TK numbers” have existed in the Star Wars universe since the first movie in 1977 but they have received new attention after they were referenced in The Mandalorian season 2, episode 7, “Chapter 15: The Believer.” The numbers have always been important but have gained notoriety over the years as the Star Wars expanded universe has continued to grow one way or another, even after Disney decanonized large amounts of it.

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