Friend code
A friend code is a code that is unique to every player and is generated when the player plays Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the first time over Wi-Fi. Another friend code is generated when the player first opens the Friend List application while connected to the Internet on the Nintendo 3DS.
Overview
Friends must give these to the player before they can play with him or her over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The format is three sets of four-digit numbers, such as 0000-0000-0000. Players can check their own friend code and add others on the friend roster. The system used in Super Smash Bros. Brawl is the same for any other Wi-Fi title on a Nintendo system; both players cannot view each other's online status until they have both registered each other's Brawl codes.
The player can have up to 64 friend codes on the roster. After registering a code, the player can play with the other player in a few different modes, including a regular online Brawl (with custom taunts usable), a Multi-Man mode match with the other player as a teammate, or Home-Run Contest.
As of May 20, 2014, Friend codes are now no longer in use due to Nintendo shutting down the Wi-Fi for Nintendo DS and Wii games.
Friend Codes are used on the Nintendo 3DS to register friends to the system, just like on the Wii. However, the console's friend code is used for all games, rather than having a different friend code per game. The friends registered via these codes are used for the list on With Friends.