What is banding and why?

[chicken farmer]

I have always seen and heard of banding pigeons and I recently got some homers that are banded, I know it's a way of identification but is there any other reason? Can you trace a pigeon back from it's number? I don't know really anything about why,when,or the reasons it's done and would like to know. Thanks in advance

 

[chicken farmer]

Here are a few of the homers I got

 

[Hokum Coco]

Can you trace a pigeon back from it's number? Yes; also it is compulsory to have any racing pigeon banded to enable it to race competitively.

Check out this link
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1014585/sussex-boy-rescues-domestic-rock-dove