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In
metadata Metadata (or metainformation) is "data that provides information about other data", but not the content of the data itself, such as the text of a message or the image itself. There are many distinct types of metadata, including: * Descriptive ...
, the term data element is an atomic unit of data that has precise meaning or precise semantics. A data element has: # An identification such as a data element name # A clear data element definition # One or more representation terms # Optional enumerated values Code (metadata) # A list of synonyms to data elements in other metadata registries Synonym ring Data elements usage can be discovered by inspection of software applications or application data files through a process of manual or automated Application Discovery and Understanding. Once data elements are discovered they can be registered in a
metadata registry A metadata registry is a central location in an organization where metadata definitions are stored and maintained in a controlled method. A metadata repository is the database where metadata is stored. The registry also adds relationships with ...
. In
telecommunications Telecommunication, often used in its plural form or abbreviated as telecom, is the transmission of information over a distance using electronic means, typically through cables, radio waves, or other communication technologies. These means of ...
, the term data element has the following components: #A named unit of
data Data ( , ) are a collection of discrete or continuous values that convey information, describing the quantity, quality, fact, statistics, other basic units of meaning, or simply sequences of symbols that may be further interpreted for ...
that, in some contexts, is considered indivisible and in other contexts may consist of data items. #A named identifier of each of the entities and their attributes that are represented in a
database In computing, a database is an organized collection of data or a type of data store based on the use of a database management system (DBMS), the software that interacts with end users, applications, and the database itself to capture and a ...
. #A basic unit of
information Information is an Abstraction, abstract concept that refers to something which has the power Communication, to inform. At the most fundamental level, it pertains to the Interpretation (philosophy), interpretation (perhaps Interpretation (log ...
built on standard structures having a unique meaning and distinct units or values. #In electronic record-keeping, a combination of characters or bytes referring to one separate item of information, such as name,
address An address is a collection of information, presented in a mostly fixed format, used to give the location of a building, apartment, or other structure or a plot of land, generally using border, political boundaries and street names as references, ...
, or age. In the areas of databases and data systems more generally a data element is a concept forming part of a data model. As an element of data representation, a collection of data elements forms a
data structure In computer science, a data structure is a data organization and storage format that is usually chosen for Efficiency, efficient Data access, access to data. More precisely, a data structure is a collection of data values, the relationships amo ...
.Beynon-Davies P. (2004). Database Systems 3rd Edition. Palgrave, Basingstoke, UK


In practice

In practice, data elements (fields, columns, attributes, etc.) are sometimes "overloaded", meaning a given data element will have multiple potential meanings. While a known bad practice, overloading is nevertheless a very real factor or barrier to understanding what a system is doing.


See also

* Application Discovery and Understanding * Data element definition * Data dictionary * Data hierarchy *
ISO/IEC 11179 The ISO/IEC 11179 metadata registry (MDR) standard is an international International Organization for Standardization, ISO/International Electrotechnical Commission, IEC standard for representing metadata for an organization in a metadata registry ...
metadata registry specification *
Metadata Metadata (or metainformation) is "data that provides information about other data", but not the content of the data itself, such as the text of a message or the image itself. There are many distinct types of metadata, including: * Descriptive ...
* Representation term * Universal Data Element Framework * Data collection system


References

* *


External links


Federal XML Developer's Guide


(see ISO/IEC 11179-3:2003 clause 3.3.36) Metadata Enterprise application integration {{database-stub