ISO/IEC 11179-5:1995
(Main)Information technology — Specification and standardization of data elements — Part 5: Naming and identification principles for data elements
Information technology — Specification and standardization of data elements — Part 5: Naming and identification principles for data elements
This part of ISO/IEC 11179 provides rules and guidelines for naming and identification of data elements. It describes the components and structure of data element identification. Identification is narrowly defined to encompass only the means to establish unique identification of data elements within a register. It defines the identifying attributes; describes the relationship of the attributes to each other; includes principles by which naming conventions can be developed; and describes an example naming convention. The naming guidelines described herein can also be applied to names of data concepts in addition to names of data elements. This part of ISO/IEC 11179 should be used in conjunction with those which establish rules and procedures for attributing, classifying, defining, and registering data elements.
Technologies de l'information — Spécifications et normalisation des données — Partie 5: Principes de dénomination et d'identification des données
La présente partie de la norme internationale fournit des règles et des directives pour la dénomination et l'identification des données. Elle décrit les éléments et la structure de l'identification des données. L'identification est strictement définie pour n'inclure que les moyens destinés à établir une identification unique des données dans un registre. Elle définit les attributs d'identification et décrit les relations des attributs entre eux : elle n'inclut des principes permettant de développer des conventions de dénomination et présente un exemple de convention. Les directives de dénomination décrites ici peuvent s'appliquer également aux noms de concepts de données autres que des données.
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INTERNATIONAL lSO/lEC
STANDARD 11179-5
First edition
1995-I 2-01
Information technology - Specification
and standardization of data elements -
Part 5:
Naming and identification principles for data
elements
Technologies de Yin formation - Spbifica tions et normalisa tion des
don&es -
Par-tie 5: Principes de d&nomination et d ’identification des don&es
Reference number
ISO/l EC II 179-5: 1995(E)
ISO/IEC 11179-S: 1995 (E)
Contents
. . .
Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .*.*.*.*.
iv
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Introduction
1 . Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2 . Normative references . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3 . Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .*.*.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 . Principles for the identification structure of data
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41 . Identifying attributes
............................................................................................................
42 . Name and context
43 International registration data identifier .
.
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5 . Rules for registration identification of data
...................................................................
6 . Guidelines for structured naming conventions
.................................................................
61 . Principles govering semantic content of names
.................................................................................
62 . Principles govering format of names
7 . Thesaurus application guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Annexes
...........................................................................................
A Example naming convention
.................................................................................
B Registration identification example
Thesaurus example .
C
0 ISO/IEC 1995
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ii
ISO/IEC 11179-5: 1995 (E)
0 ISOAEC
Foreword
IS0 (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International
Electrotechnical Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization.
National bodies that are members of IS0 or IEC participate in the development of International
Standards through technical committees established by the respective organization to deal with
particular fields of technical activity. IS0 and IEC technical committees collaborate in fields of
mutual interest. Other international organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison
with IS0 and IEC, also take part in the work.
In the field of information technology, IS0 and IEC have established a joint technical committee,
ISO/IEC JTCl. Draft international Standards adopted by the joint technical committee are
circulated to national bodies for voting. Publication as an International Standard requires
approval by at least 75% of the national bodies casting a vote.
International Standard ISO/IEC 11179-5 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC
JTC 1, Information technology, SC 14, Data element principles.
ISO/IEC 11179 consists of the following parts, under the general title Information technology -
Specification and standardization of duta eIements:
- Part 1: Framework for the generation and standardization of data elements
- Part 2: Classification of concepts for the ident@ation of domains
- Part 3: Basic attributes of data elements
- Part 4: Rules and guidelines for the formulation of d&a definitions
- Part 5: Naming and identification principIes for &ta elements
- Part 4: Registration of &ta elements
Annexes A, B and C of this part of ISO/IEC 11179 are for information only.
. . .
ISO/IEC 11179-5: 1995 (E) 0 ISO/IEC
Introduction
This part of ISO/IEC 11179 contains principles, rules and guidelines. Principles establish the premises
on which the rules are based. Rules are mandatory and testable for compliance. Guidelines are
applications of the rules recommended for good practice.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD @ Iso/IEc ISO/IEC 11179=5:1995(E)
Information technology - Specification and standardization of data elements -
Part 5: Naming and identification principles for data elements
1 Scope
This part of ISO/IEC 11179 provides rules and guidelines for naming and identification of data
elements. It describes the components and structure of data element identification. Identification is
narrowly defined to encompass only the means to establish unique identification of data elements
It defines the identifying attributes; describes the relationship of the attributes to
within a register.
each other;- includes principles by which naming conventions can be developed; and describes an
example naming convention. The naming guidelines described herein can also be applied to names
of data concepts in addition to names of data elements.
This part of ISO/IEC 11179 should be used in conjunction with those which establish rules and
procedures for attributing, classifying, defining, and registering data elements.
2 Normative references
The following standards contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute
provisions of this part of ISO/IEC 11179. At the time of publication, the editions indicated were
valid. All standards are subject to revision, and parties to agreements based on this part of
ISO/IEC 11179 are encouraged to apply the most recent editions of the standards indicated
below. Members of IEC and IS0 maintain registers of currently valid International Standards.
ISOIIEC 11179-3: 1994, Information technology - Specification and standardization of data
elements - Part 3: Basic attributes of data elements.
ISOIIEC 11179-4: 1995, Infomzation technology - Specification and standardization of data elements
- Part 4: Rules and guidelines for the formulation of data definitions
3 Definitions
For the purposes of this part of ISO/IEC 11179, the following definitions apply.
3.1 attribute: A characteristic of an object or entity (ISOLEC 11179-3).
3.2 context: A designation or description of the application environment or discipline in which a
name is applied or from which it originates (ISO/IEC 11179-3).
3.3 data element: A unit of data for which the identification, meaning, representation
and permissible values are specified by means of a set of attributes (ISO/IEC 11179-3).
ISO/IEC 11179-5: 1995 (E)
0 ISO/IEC
3.4 data element concept: A concept which can be represented in the form of a data element,
described independently of any particular representation (ISO/IEC 11179-3).
3.5 data identifier: An identifier of a data element (a string of characters or other graphic symbols)
assigned by a Registration Authority.
3.6 definition: A word or phrase expressing the essential nature of a person or thing or class of
persons or things: an answer to the question “what is x?” or “what is an x? “; a statement of the meaning
of a word or word group (Webster ’s Third New International Dictionary of the
English Language Unabridged, 1986).
3.7 identifier: See data identifier.
3.8 lexical: Pertaining to words or the vocabulary of a language as distinguished from its grammar and
construction.
3.9 name: The primary means of identification of objects and concepts for humans (ISO/IEC 11179.
.
3.10 object class term: A component of the name of a data element which represents the logical data
grouping (in a logical data model) to which it belongs; e.g., “employee.”
3.11 property term: A component of the name of a data element which expresses the category to
which the data element belongs.
3.12 qualifier term: A word or words which help define and differentiate a name within the
database.
3.13 registration authority: An organization authorized to register a data element.
3.14 registration authority identifier: The identifier of any organization authorized to register
a data element; the attribute which stores this.
3.15 representation term: The form of the set of valid values for a data element, e.g., “amount,”
“name. ”
3.16 semantics: The branch of linguistic science which deals with the meanings of words (Webster).
3.17 separator: A symbol or space enclosing or separating a component within a name; a delimiter.
3.18 structure set: A method of placing objects in context, revealing relationships to other objects.
Examples include Entity-Relationship Models, taxonomies, and ontologies.
3.19 syntax: The relationships among characters or groups of characters, independent of their
The structure of expressions in a language, and
meanings or the manner of their interpretation and use.
the rules governing the structure of a language.
1s0lIEc 11179-5:1995 (E)
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3.20 thesaurus: A controlled vocabulary arranged in a given order in which relationships among terms
are displayed and identified.
3.21 version identifier: The identification of an issue of a data element specification in a series of
evolving data element specifications within a Registration Authority.
4 Principles for the identification structure of data
4.1 Identifying attributes
A set of five related attributes serves to name and identify each data element for the purpose of
differentiating data elements. These attributes are:
- name
- context
- registration authority identifier
- data identifier
- version identifier
References to name in this part of ISOLEC 11179 shall be assumed to include both the name and
synonymous name attributes specified in ISO/IEC 11179-3, which contains complete descriptions of all
attributes. Also, data identifier is equivalent to identifier in ISO/IEC 11179-3. The principles for these
attributes are stated below.
4.2 Name and context
A data element shall have at least one name within a register of a Registration Authority. More names
may be assigned depending on the context in which the data element is used. Each name has special
utility within a particular context. Rigorously structured names may be created for data administration,
a preferred name may be specified by users, shortened names may be generated for particular software
environments such as a particular programming language or database management system.
A naming convention (usually a
Within each context names for many data elements may be assigned.
set of rules) is established for each context to specify how names are formulated within that context.
A
naming convention shall cover all pertinent aspects of the context. This includes, as applicable:
- the scope of the naming convention, e.g., industry preferred name;
- the authority which establishes names;
- semantic rules governing the source and content of the words used in a name, e.g., words derived
from data models, words commonly used in the discipline, etc.;
- syntactic rules covering required word order;
- lexical rules covering controlled word lists, name length, character set, language;
- a rule establishing whether or not names within this context must be unique.
ISO/IEC 11179-5: 1995 (E) 0 ISO/IEC
These aspects of a naming convention are detailed in Clause 7, which provides guidelines for
developing a rigorously structured naming convention.
4.3 International registration data identifier
The attributes registration authority identifier @AI), data identifier @I), and version identifier (VI)
At least one IRDI is required for a data
constitute the international registration data identifier (IRDI).
element. Data identifiers are assigned by a Registration Authority; data identifiers shall be unique
within a domain of a Registration Authority.
As each Registration Authority may determine its own assignment scheme, there is no guarantee that
the DI by itself will uniquely identify a data element. For example, if two authorities both use
sequential 6-digit numbers, there will be a set of data elements with the same DI ’s; however, in all
probability, the data elements with the same numbers will not be the same data elements.
Conversely,
if one data element appears in two registers, it will have two DI ’s. Therefore, both the DI and the RAI
are necessary for identification of a data element.
If particular attributes of a data element change, then a new version of the data element shall be created
and registered. In such a case, a VI is required to complete the unique identification of a data element.
For further guidance, see ISO/IEC 11179-6.
An IRDI can serve as a key when exchanging data among information systems, organizations, or other
parties who wish to share a specific data element, but may not utilize the same name
...
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