The following definitions are from International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 11179 (Information technology - Metadata registries (MDR)) Part 3: Registry metamodel and basic attributes (2003) and Part 5: Naming and identification principles for data elements (2003).
Term | ISO Definition | ISO 11179-3 (2003) and -5 (2003) |
|---|---|---|
Administered Item | A registry item for which administrative information is recorded in an Administration Record including Classification Scheme, Conceptual Domain, Context, Data Element, Data Element Concept, Object Class, Property, Representation Class and Value Domain. | A registry item for which administrative information is recorded in an Administration Record. |
Attribute | A characteristic of an object or entity required to describe metadata items. | A characteristic of an object or entity. |
Characteristic | Abstraction of a property of an object or of a set of objects, used for describing concepts. | Abstraction of a property of an object or of a set of objects. |
Classification Scheme | Descriptive information for an arrangement or division of objects into groups based on characteristics, which the objects have in common. | The descriptive information for an arrangement or division of objects into groups based on characteristics, which the objects have in common. |
Concept | A unit of knowledge created by a unique combination of characteristics. | Unit of knowledge created by a unique combination of characteristics. |
Conceptual Domain | A set of valid value meanings, which may be enumerated or expressed via a description. | A set of valid Value Meanings. |
Context | Circumstance, purpose, and perspective under which an object is defined or used. | A universe of discourse in which a name or definition is used. |
Data Element (CDE) | A unit of data for which the definition, identification, representation, and permissible values are specified by means of a set of attributes. | A unit of data for which the definition, identification, representation and Permissible Values are specified by means of a set of attributes. |
Data Element Concept (DEC) | An idea that can be represented in the form of a data element, described independently of any particular representation. | A concept that can be represented in the form of a Data Element, described independently of any particular representation. |
Data model | Graphical and/or lexical representation of data, specifying their properties, structure and inter-relationships. | A graphical and/or lexical representation of data, specifying their properties, structure and inter-relationships. |
Datatype | A set of distinct values, characterized by properties of those values and by operations on those values. | A set of distinct values, characterized by properties of those values and by operations on those values. |
Definition | Representation of a concept by a descriptive statement which serves to differentiate it from related concepts. | The definition of an Administered Item within a Context. |
Dimensionality | Expression of measurement without units, associated with a Conceptual Domain. | An expression of measurement without units. |
Entity | Any concrete or abstract thing that exists, did exist, or might exist, including associations among these things. | Any concrete or abstract thing that exists, did exist, or might exist, including associations among these things. |
Enumerated Value Domain | A value domain that is specified by a list of all its permissible values. | A Value Domain that is specified by a list of all its Permissible Values. |
Long Name | Not in ISO 11179 - it is a name type used in the caDSR - in ISO it is designation - the designation of an Administered Item within a Context | --- |
Metadata | Data that defines and describes other data. | Data that describes data. |
Name | Designation of an object by a linguistic expression. | A name by which an Administered Item is designated within a specific Context. |
Non-enumerated Value Domain | A value domain that is specified by a description rather than a list of all permissible values. | A Value Domain that is specified by a description rather than a list of all Permissible Values. |
Object | Anything perceivable or conceivable. | Anything perceivable or conceivable. |
Object Class | A set of ideas, abstractions, or things in the real world that are identified with explicit boundaries and meaning and whose properties and behavior follow the same rules. | A set of ideas, abstractions, or things in the real world that are identified with explicit boundaries and meaning and whose properties and behavior follow the same rules. |
Permissible Value | Expression of a value meaning allowed in a specific value domain. | An expression of a Value Meaning allowed in a specific Value Domain. |
Property | A characteristic common to all members of an object class. | A characteristic common to all members of an Object Class. |
Representation | The representation is composed of a value domain, datatype, units of measure (if necessary), and representation class (optionally). | The form of the set of valid values for a data element or data value domain. |
Representation Class | A classification of types of representations. | The classification of types of representations. |
Units of Measure | Actual units in which the associated values are measured. Units of measure are associated with a Value Domain. | The actual units in which the associated values are measured. |
Value | A data value. | A data value. |
Value Domain (VD) | A set of attributes describing representational characteristics of instance data with or without enumerated permissible values. | A set of Permissible Values. |
Value Meaning | The meaning or semantic content of a value. | The meaning or semantic content of a Value. |
Value Meaning Description | The description of a value meaning. | A description of a Value Meaning. |
Version | A unique version identifier of the administered item. | The unique version identifier of the Administered Item. |
