Data Element

In metadata, the term data element is an atomic unit of data that has precise meaning or precise semantics. A data element has:

  1. An identification such as a data element name
  2. A clear data element definition
  3. One or more representation terms
  4. Optional enumerated values Code (metadata)
  5. 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.

In telecommunication, the term data element has the following components:

  1. A named unit of data that, in some contexts, is considered indivisible and in other contexts may consist of data items.
  2. A named identifier of each of the entities and their attributes that are represented in a database.
  3. A basic unit of information built on standard structures having a unique meaning and distinct units or values.
  4. In electronic record-keeping, a combination of characters or bytes referring to one separate item of information, such as name, address, 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.

Read more about Data Element:  In Practice

Famous quotes containing the words data and/or element:

    Mental health data from the 1950’s on middle-aged women showed them to be a particularly distressed group, vulnerable to depression and feelings of uselessness. This isn’t surprising. If society tells you that your main role is to be attractive to men and you are getting crow’s feet, and to be a mother to children and yours are leaving home, no wonder you are distressed.
    Grace Baruch (20th century)

    The element running through entire nature, which we popularly call Fate, is known to us as limitation. Whatever limits us, we call Fate.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)