SDMX Technical Vocabulary

All Information Model: Class and Attribute Terms General Terms Modelling Related Terms XML Related Terms

All

IDNameDescriptionSource
API API Application Program Interface UG
ABSTRACT Abstract A XSD construct in which an element or a complex type can be defined such that it cannot actually be used in a XML document. This mechanism is useful for defining base types for which other type are derived.
ABSTRACT_CLASS_UML Abstract Class (UML) A class that does not provide a complete declaration, but which contains properties and associations which are in common with all of its sub classes. An abstract class is a super class.
ACTION_TYPE Action Type Specifies the action to be taken by a system processing the data contained. IM
ACTOR_UML Actor (UML) Defines a coherent set of roles that users of the system can play when interacting with it. The set of roles can be played by either an individual or an external system
AGENCY Agency Specifies the action to be taken by a system processing the data contained. IM
AGENCY_SCHEME Agency Scheme A maintained collection of Maintenance Agencies IM
AGGREGATION_ASSOCIATION_UML Aggregation Association (UML) A special type of association used to represent a stronger relationship between two classes than a simple association; typically read as "owns a", as in, "Class A owns a Class B"
ALL_XML All A XSD construct the allows for a collection of child elements to appear in any order. Each child can occur between 0 and 1 times.
ANNOTABLE_ARTEFACT Annotable Artefact A construct that contains structures capable of defining annotations. IM
ANNOTATION Annotation A construct that contains structures capable of defining user or organisation-specific metadata. Such metadata may not be understood by recipients of the metadata. IM
ANNOTATION_XML Annotation A XSD construct for providing inline documentation of schema objects.
ANONYMOUS_TYPE Anonymous type A XSD pattern where the type definition of an element is defined directly in the element definition. The resulting type is not named and cannot be reused. SDMX schemas do not use this pattern.
ANY Any A XSD construct the allows for the content of an element to be any valid XML. This can be restricted to be only XML for certain namespaces)
ARTEFACT_OR_ARTIFACT Artefact or Artifact An object of interest. IM
ASSOCIATION Association A relationship with two or more ends, where each end is on a class. Each end is called a role, and may have a role name, multiplicity, and may be navigable.
ASSOCIATION_NAME_UML Association Name (UML) A designation given to the association.
ASSOCIATION_ROLE_UML Association Role (UML) A name which described the part played in association by one of the classes in the association.
ATTACHABLE_ARTEFACT Attachable Artefact The object to which the attribute value is attached. IM
ATTACHMENT_CONSTRAINT Attachment Constraint A Constraint defined in terms of the combination of component values that may be found in a data source, and to which a Constrainable Artefact may be associated in a structure definition. IM
ATTACHMENT_KEY Attachment Key Identifies the key of an object to which specified metadata are to be attached. IM
ATTRIBUTE_IM Attribute An abstract class used to provide qualitative information. IM
ATTRIBUTE_MCV Attribute A characteristic of an object or entity. (ISO/IEC FDIS 11179-1 "Information technology - Metadata registries - Part 1: Framework", March 2004) MCV
ATTRIBUTE_UG Attribute Statistical concept qualifying observations, time series or datasets (e.g. title, availability, observation status, unit of measure, title in national language, source). In general terms, the attribute is a characteristic of an object or entity. UG
ATTRIBUTE_XML Attribute An XML structural object that is a name and value pair, and included as part of an element’s structure. The name of the attribute and its value are separated by the “=” character. Attribute values must be contained in quotations. The details of an attribute are defined in an XML schema with an attribute definition.
ATTRIBUTE_UML Attribute (UML) A data property of a class.
ATTRIBUTE_DESCRIPTOR Attribute Descriptor A set metadata concepts that define the attributes of a Data Structure Definition. IM
ATTRIBUTE_RELATIONSHIP Attribute Relationship Specifies the type of artefact to which a Data Attribute can be attached in a Data Set. IM
ATTRIBUTE_VALUE Attribute Value Qualitative or quantitative information about the object to which the Attribute is attached. IM
ATTRIBUTE_DEFINITION Attribute definition A XSD construct for defining the details of an attribute. An attribute definition defines the name, type (format of the value), and usage (required or optional) of an attribute. In addition, the attribute definition can provide a default or fixed value for the attribute.
ATTRIBUTE_GROUP Attribute group A XSD construct for defining a collection of attributes that can be reused as a group by complex type definitions.
BALANCED_TREE Balanced tree A hierarchy where the levels are pre-defined and fixed, (i.e. a level always has the same set of codes, and any code has a fixed parent and child relationship to other codes). A statistical classification is an example of a balanced tree. IM
BILATERAL_EXCHANGE Bilateral exchange Exchange of data and/or metadata between a sending organisation and a receiving organisation where all aspects of the exchange process are agreed between counterparties, including the mechanism for exchange of data and metadata, the formats, the frequency or schedule, and the mode used for communications regarding the exchange. MCV
CSV CSV Comma Separated Value. A type of file format where the data values are separated by a known character. CSV has become a generic terms and the values may be separated by a character other than a comma (e.g. a space) UG
CARTESIAN_PRODUCT Cartesian Product The theoretical number of series that is possible by the combination of all possible values of the constituents of the key of the series. For instance if the key has three components, each with 100 possible values then the Cartesian product will have 100x100x100 possible keys. IM
CATEGORISATION Categorisation Associates an Identifiable Artefact with a Category. IM
CATEGORY Category An item at any level within a classification, typically tabulation categories, sections, subsections, divisions, subdivisions, groups, subgroups, classes and subclasses. MCV
CATEGORY_MAP Category Map Associates a source and target Category. IM
CATEGORY_SCHEME_MCV Category Scheme Scheme made up of a hierarchy of categories, which may include any type of useful classification for the organization of data and metadata. MCV
CATEGORY_SCHEME_IM Category Scheme The descriptive information for an arrangement or division of categories into groups based on characteristics, which the objects have in common. IM
CATEGORY_SCHEME_MAP Category Scheme Map Associates a source and target Category Scheme. IM
CHARACTER_DATA Character data The non-markup portion of a XML document. This is the textual content of elements.
CHOICE Choice A XSD construct where only one of the structural constructs in the choice can occur in the XML document.
CLASSIFICATION Classification A set of discrete, exhaustive and mutually exclusive observations, which can be assigned to one or more variables to be measured in the collation and/or presentation of data. From Neuchâtel (b): The general concept of a structured list of mutually exclusive categories, each of which describes a possible value of the classification variable. Such a structured list may be linear or hierarchically structured. MCV
CLASSIFICATION_SYSTEM Classification System Arrangement or division of objects into groups based on characteristics which the objects have in common. MCV
CODE Code A language independent set of letters, numbers or symbols that represent a concept whose meaning is described in a natural language. IM,MCV
CODE_LIST_MCV Code List A predefined list from which some statistical coded concepts take their values.
CODE_LIST_IM Code List A list from which some statistical concepts (coded concepts) take their values. IM
CODE_LIST_MAP Code List Map Associates a source and target Code List. IM
CODE_MAP Code Map Associates a source and target Code. IM
CODED_ATTRIBUTE_VALUE Coded Attribute Value An attribute that takes it value from a Code in Code List. IM
CODED_KEY_VALUE Coded Key Value The value of a coded component of a key. The value is the Code to which this object is associated. IM
CODED_OBSERVATION Coded Observation An Observation that takes its value from a code in a Code List. IM
CODING_FORMAT Coding Format Specifies format information for the codes at a level in the hierarchy such as whether the codes at the level are alphabetic, numeric or alphanumeric and the code length. IM
COMMENT Comment A notation made in an XML document that is not part of the actual logical content of the document. The structure of a comment is as follows
COMPACT_DATA_MESSAGE Compact Data Message Exchange of large data sets in a data structure definition-dependent form UG
COMPILING_AGENCY Compiling agency The organisation compiling the data being reported. MCV
COMPLEX_CONTENT Complex Content A XSD construct for defining complex types based on a derivation from another complex type (see extension and restriction)
COMPLEX_DATA_TYPE Complex Data Type A structural definition of an element which can contain other structural objects such as child elements and/or attributes.
COMPLEX_TYPE Complex Type A XSD construct for defining a complex data type (which is the structure of an element).
COMPONENT Component A structural artefact used to define the structure of a data or metadata set. In the Information Model it is an abstract super class whose sub classes are the content of a Data Structure Definition or Metadata Structure Definition such as a Dimension or Attribute. IM
COMPONENT_LIST Component List A list of components. In the Information Model it is an abstract super class whose sub classes are the lists of Dimensions, Attributes, and Measures defined in a content of a Data Structure Definition Key Family or Metadata Structure Definition. IM
COMPONENT_VALUE Component List The identification of and value of a Component of the key (e.g. Dimension). IM
COMPONENT_MAP Component Map Links a source and target Component where there is a semantic equivalence between the source and the target Components. IM
COMPUTATION Computation A textual description of the calculations and other manipulation involved in a statistical process. IM
CONCEPT Concept A unit of knowledge created by a unique combination of characteristics. Source is ISO/IEC 11179 MCV,IM
CONCEPT_MAP Concept Map Associates two concepts where there is a semantic equivalence between the source and the target Concepts. IM
CONCEPT_SCHEME_MCV Concept Scheme Maintained list of concepts that are used in data structure definitions or metadata structure definitions. MCV
CONCEPT_SCHEME_IM Concept Scheme The descriptive information for an arrangement or division of concepts into groups based on characteristics, which the objects have in common. IM
CONCEPT_SCHEME_MAP Concept Scheme Map The descriptive information for an arrangement or division of concepts into groups based on characteristics, which the objects have in common. IM
CONCEPTUAL_DATA_MODEL Conceptual data model (from MCV but from ISO/IEC 11179) A data model that represents an abstract view of the real world. A conceptual model represents the human understanding of a system.
CONCRETE_CLASS_UML Concrete Class (UML) A class which has a complete declaration of its properties and associations, some or all of which may be inherited from a super class.
CONDITIONAL Conditional An indication that a construct is not mandatory and will be present only if certain (often unspecified) conditions exist. IM
CONSTAINABLE_ARTEFACT Constrainable Artefact A structural artefact whose content can be sub-set by means of a Constraint. IM
CONSTRAINT_IM Constraint Specifies a sub set of the definition of the allowable or actual content of a data or metadata source that can be derived from the Structure that defines code lists and other valid content. IM
CONSTRAINT_MCV Constraint Specification of what may be contained in a data or metadata set in terms of the content or, for data only, in terms of the set of key combinations to which specific attributes (defined by the data structure) may be attached. MCV
CONTACT_IM Contact An instance of a role of an individual or an organization (or organization part or organization person) to whom an information item(s), a material object(s) and/or person(s) can be sent to or from in a specified context. IM
CONTACT_MCV Contact Individual or organisational contact points for the data or metadata, including information on how to reach the contact points. MCV
CONTENT_CONSTRAINT Content Constraint Defines a Constraint in terms of the content that can be found in data or metadata sources linked to the Constrainable Artefact to which this constraint is associated. IM
CORE_REPRESENTATION Core Representation The allowable format or content for a Concept when it is used in a structure such as a Dimension of a Key Family. This format can be overridden by means of a Local Format specified in the structure itself. IM
CROSS_DOMAIN_CONCEPTS Cross-domain concepts List of standard concepts, covering structural and reference metadata, which should be used in several statistical domains wherever possible to enhance possibilities of the exchange of data and metadata between organisations. MCV
CROSS-SECTIONAL_DATA_MESSAGE Cross-sectional Data Message Exchange of many observation types in a data structure definition-dependent form UG
CUBE_REGION Cube Region A set of Components and their values that defines a sub set or “slice” of the total range of possible content of a data structure to which the Constrainable Artefact is linked. IM
DOM DOM (Document Object Model) A set of objects that represent an XML document. The entire contents of an XML document are loaded into memory in a tree like object.
DATA Data Characteristics or information, usually numerical, that are collected through observation. MCV
DATA_ATTRIBUTE Data Attribute A characteristic of an object or entity. IM
DATA_CONSUMER Data Consumer Organisation using data as input for further processing. MCV,IM
DATA_CONSUMER_SCHEME Data Consumer Scheme A maintained collection of Data Consumers. IM
DATA_EXTRACTION_DATE Data Extraction Date A specific time period that identifies the date and time that the data are extracted from a data source. IM
DATA_KEY Data Key The values of a key in a data set. IM
DATA_KEY_SET Data Key Set A set of data keys. IM
DATA_PROVIDER Data Provider Organisation that produces data or reference metadata. MCV,IM
DATA_PROVIDER_SCHEME Data Provider Scheme A maintained collection of Data Providers.
DATA_SET_IM Data Set An organised collection of data and associated metadata structured according to a known Data Structure definition IM
DATA_SET_MCV Data Set Any organised collection of data.
DATA_SHARING Data Sharing Exchange of data and/or metadata in a situation involving the use of open, freely available data formats and where process patterns are known and standard. MCV
DATA_STRUCTURE_DEFINITION_IM Data Structure Definition Set of structural metadata associated to a data set, which includes information about how concepts are associated with the measures, dimensions, and attributes of a data cube, along with information about the representation of data and related descriptive metadata. IM
DATA_STRUCTURE_DEFINITION_MCV Data Structure Definition A collection of metadata concepts, their structure and usage when used to collect or disseminate data. MCV
DATA_TYPE Data Type A set of distinct values characterized by properties of those values and by operations on those values. [ISO/IEC 11404:1996, 4.11] MCV
DATA_TYPES Data Types Structural definitions (simple or complex) that are used as the definition of elements or used as the basis of other data type definitions.
DATA_AND_METADATA_DISCOVERY Data and Metadata Discovery Searching and finding data or metadata IM
DATA_COLLECTION Data collection Systematic process of gathering data for official statistics. MCV
DATA_COMPILATION Data compilation Operations performed on data to derive new information according to a given set of rules. MCV
DATA_DISSEMINATION_AGENCY Data dissemination agency The organisation disseminating the data. MCV
DATA_ELEMENT Data element A unit of data for which the definition, identification, representation, and permissible values are specified by means of a set of attributes. (from ISO/IEC 11179) MCV
DATA_EXCHANGE Data exchange The process of sending and receiving data. MCV
DATA_INTERCHANGE Data interchange The process of sending and receiving data. MCV
DATA_MODEL Data model (from MCV but from ISO/IEC 11179) A graphical and/or lexical representation of data, specifying their properties, structure and inter-relationships.
DATA_PROVIDER_SERIES_KEY Data provider series key Identifier used by the data providers systems to distinguish between data series MCV
DATA_SET_IDENTIFIER Data set identifier Sequence of characters identifying the data set with which it is associated. MCV
DATABASE_SCHEMA Database Schema The structure of tables in a database. UG
DATAFLOW_DEFINITION Dataflow Definition Abstract concept (i.e. the structure without any data) of a flow of data that providers will provide for different reference periods. IM
DATASOURCE Datasource Identification of the location or service from where data or metadata can be obtained. IM
DERIVED_ASSOCIATION_UML Derived Association (UML) An association between two concrete classes which is the same as the association between the two abstract classes from which the concrete classes inherit.
DIMENSION_IM Dimension A statistical concept used (most probably together with other statistical concepts) to identify a statistical series, such as a time series, e.g. a statistical concept indicating a certain economic activity or a geographical reference area. IM
DIMENSION_MCV Dimension A statistical concept used, in combination with other statistical concepts, to identify a statistical series or single observations. MCV
DIMENSION_UG Dimension A statistical concept used, in combination with other statistical concepts, to identify subsets of a multidimensional table (cube) or single observations in the multidimensional table (examples of dimensions: frequency, economic phenomenon, reference area). A dimension has a definite number of values, called dimension members. UG
DIMENSION_DESCRIPTOR Dimension Descriptor An ordered set of metadata concepts that, combined, classify a statistical series, such as a time series, and whose values, when combined (the key) in an instance such as a data set, uniquely identify a specific series. IM
DISCOVERY Discovery Searching and finding data or metadata UG
DISSEMINATION Dissemination Distribution or transmission of statistical data to users. MCV
DOCUMENT_ELEMENT Document Element The first element in a XML document. An XML document may only contain one root element.
DOMAIN_GROUPS Domain groups Groups comprised of international organisations and/or national agencies working, formally or informally, towards the development of international guidelines and recommendations relevant to one or more statistical subject matter domains. MCV
DRILL_DOWN Drill Down Navigation down the levels of a hierarchy from the broadest to the narrowest classification in the hierarchy IM
DUBLIN_CORE Dublin core The Dublin Core Metadata Initiative is an open forum engaged in the development of interoperable online metadata standards that support a broad range of purposes and business models. MCV
DURATION Duration A period of time defined by a start and end time period. IM
ELEMENT Element An XML structural object which consists of a start tag and an end tag. The information between these tags (which may consist of other elements) is referred to as the element content. An element may define attributes, which are always contained in the start tag. The structure of an element is defined in an XML schema with an element definition.
ELEMENT_DEFINITION Element definition A XSD construct for defining the details of an element. The element definition defines the name, type, and occurrence for the element. In addition, depending on the scope in which the element is defined and the underlying data type, additional information such as default values, and details about the how the definition may be used.
EMPTY_TAB Empty tag An abbreviated element, used when the element does not have element content. Instead of both a start and end tag, only a single tag is defined. This tag consists of the “<” character, followed by the element name. The element name can optionally be followed by attribute declarations. An empty tag is completed by the “/>” characters. Examples:
END_TAG End Tag The end of an element. The tag consists of the “” character. Example:
ENTITY Entity Any concrete or abstract thing that exists, did exist, or might exist, including associations among these things e.g. a person, object, event, idea, process, etc. MCV
ENTITY_MODEL Entity A thing which is recognized as being capable of an independent existence and which can be uniquely identified.
ENTITY_RELATIONSHIP_MODEL Entity-Relationship Model (E-R model) An abstract and conceptual representation of data using diagrams to represent the concepts (entity), their content (attribute), and the relationships (relationship) between them. Unlike UNM, there are a variety of diagrammatic techniques used.
ENUMERATED_ATTRIBUTE_VALUE Enumerated Attribute Value The content of a Reported Attribute that is taken from an enumeration. IM
ENUMERATION_UML Enumeration (UML) A set of allowable values for a data type.
EXTENDED_FACET Extended Facet This has the same function as Facet but allows additionally an XHTML representation. This is constrained for use with a Metadata Attribute IM
EXTENSION Extension A XSD construct in which a complex type derives its content from another base complex type. The derived complex type adds additional content or attributes to the base complex type.
FACET Facet Defines the format for the content of the Component when reported in a data or metadata set. IM
FACET_XML Facet A restriction of a simple data type.
FACET_TYPE Facet Type An identifier that distinguishes the data type of one facet from another IM
FACET_VALUE_TYPE Facet Value Type Specifies the allowable content of a Facet. IM
FINAL Final An indication that the specification of an object cannot be changed unless its version number is incremented. IM
FREQUENCY Frequency The time interval at which observations occur over a given time period. MCV
GESMES_TS GESMES/TS An organized set of bilateral exchanges, in which several data and metadata sending organizations or individuals agree to exchange the collected information with each other in a single, known format, and according to a single, known process. MCV
GATEWAY_EXCHANGE Gateway Exchange An organized set of bilateral exchanges, in which several data and metadata sending organizations or individuals agree to exchange the collected information with each other in a single, known format, and according to a single, known process. UG
GENERIC_DATA_MESSAGE Generic Data Message Conveys data in a form independent of a data structure definition. It is designed for data provision on websites and in any scenario where applications receiving the data may not have detailed understanding of the data set’s structure before they obtain the data set itself. UG
GENERIC_DATA_SET Generic Data Set A data format structure that is able to contain data corresponding to any Data Structure Definition. IM
GENERIC_METADATA_MESSAGE Generic Metadata Message Conveys reference metadata in a form independent of a metadata structure definition UG
GENERIC_TIMESERIES_DATA_SET Generic Timeseries Data Set A data format structure that is able to contain timeseries data corresponding to any Data Structure Definition. IM
GLOBAL_ELEMENT Global element A XSD construct in which an element is defined globally across the namespace. These elements can be reused. In addition, they may be made abstract and / or may be used as the basis of a substitution group.
GROUP_DIMENSION_DESCRIPTOR Group Dimension Descriptor A set metadata concepts that define a partial key derived from the Dimension Descriptor in a Data Structure Definition. IM
GROUP_KEY Group Key A set of Key Values that comprise a partial key, of the same dimensionality as the Time Series Key for the purpose of attaching Data Attributes. IM
HTTP_POST HTTP POST Submission of data to a web service. IM
HTTPS HTTPS Secure HTTP. IM
HIERARCHICAL_CODE Hierarchical Code A hierarchic structure of code references that together participate in a Hierachy. IM
HIERARCHICAL_CODE_SCHEME Hierarchical Code Scheme An organised collection of codes that may participate in many parent/child relationships with other Codes in the scheme, as defined by one or more Hierarchy of the scheme. IM
HIERARCHY_IM Hierarchy A classification structure arranged in levels of detail from the broadest to the most detailed level. IM
HIERARCHY_MCV Hierarchy Classification structure arranged in levels of detail from the broadest to the most detailed level. Each level of the classification is defined in terms of the categories at the next lower level of the classification. MCV
HUB Hub A web service offering access to data or metadata UG
HYBRID_CODE_LIST_MAP Hybrid Code List Map Associates a Codelist and a Hierarchical Codelist. IM
HYBRID_CODE_MAP Hybrid Code Map Associates the source and target codes in Hybrid Codelist Map. IM
HYPERCUBE Hypercube   UG
ISO ISO International Standards Organisation UG
ISO_TC154 ISO TC154 The ISO technical committee responsible for the SDMX standard in the ISO process. UG
ISO_IEC_11179 ISO/IEC 11179 International ISO/IEC Standard on metadata registries addressing the semantics of data, the representation of data, and the registration of the descriptions of data. MCV
ID Id A sequence of characters, capable of uniquely identifying that with which it is associated, within a specified context. MCV
IDENTIFIABLE_ARTEFACT Identifiable Artefact A construct that is capable of uniquely identifying an object within a specified context. IM
INCREMENTAL_UPDATE Incremental Update A set of data or metadata that may omit mandatory contents. IM
INFOSET Infoset A description of the information in an XML document
INHERITANCE_UML Inheritance (UML) Where a new more specific (sub) class derives part of its definition from an existing more general (super) class
INSTANCE Instance A XSD construct used in an annotation which contains the text of the document for the object.
CLASS_INSTANCE Instance (of a class) An instantiation of the class where the class takes a value. For instance an actual Concept with an Id of “FREQ” and name of “Frequency”.
INTERNATIONAL_STRING International String A construct defining multi-lingual text for the same underlying concept IM
ITEM_ASSOCIATION Item Association Associates two Items IM
ITEM_SCHEME Item Scheme The descriptive information for an arrangement or division of objects into groups based on characteristics, which the objects have in common. IM
ITEM_SCHEME_ASSOCIATION Item Scheme Association Associates two Item Schemes IM
KEY_IM Key The cross product of values of dimensions that identify uniquely an observation. IM
KEY_MCV Key Unique identification of a time series or sibling group within a data set. MCV
KEY_VALUE Key Value The value of a component of a key such as the value of the instance a Dimension in a Dimension Descriptor of a Data Structure Definition. IM
LANGUAGE Language A system of signs for communication, usually consisting of a vocabulary and rules [ISO 5127:2001, 1.1.2.01] MCV
LEVEL Level A group of Codes which are characterised by homogeneous coding, and where the parent of each Code in the group is at the same higher level of the Hierarchy. MCV
LEVEL_BASED_HIERARCHY Level Based Hierarchy A structure which is arranged in formal levels of detail from the broadest to the most detailed level. Each level is characterised by identification and description information that describe aspects about the content of the items at that level. IM
LOCAL_ELEMENT Local Element A XSD construct in which an element is defined within the context of a complex type. These elements are specific to the type in which they are defined and cannot be reused.
LOCALE Locale Identification of a natural language that includes geographic variations such as Canadian French, US English etc. IM
LOCALISED_STRING Localised String A construct that contains text in a single, identified, locale. IM
LOGICAL_CLASS_DIAGRAM Logical Class Diagram A conceptual data model.
LOGICAL_INTERFACE Logical Interface The specification of the behaviour of a system from a logical, rather than a physical, perspective IM
LOOSE_COUPLING_OF_APPLICATIONS Loose coupling of Applications   UG
MAINTAINABLE_ARTEFACT Maintainable Artefact A construct that contains structures capable of identifying a maintenance agency IM
MAINTENANCE_AGENCY Maintenance Agency The organisation or other expert body that maintains a domain-specific data or metadata structure definitions. MCV
MANDATORY Mandatory An indication that the construct must be present if its containing object is present. IM
MARKUP Markup The parts of a XML document which define the structural objects such as elements or attributes.
MEASURE_DESCRIPTOR Measure Descriptor A set metadata concepts that define the Measures of a Data Structure Definition. IM
MEMBER_SELECTION Member Selection A set of permissible values for one Component of a data or metadata structure. IM
MEMBER_VALUE Member Value A single value of the set of values for a Member Selection. IM
METADATA Metadata Data that defines and describes other data. MCV
METADATA_ATTRIBUTE Metadata Attribute An Attribute that is used in a Metadata Structure Definition. IM
METADATA_KEY_SET Metadata Key Set A set of metadata keys. IM
METADATA_KEY_VALUE Metadata Key Value The value in a Metadata Set of an Identifier Component defined in a Metadata Structure Definition. IM
METADATA_REGISTRY Metadata Registry Information system for registering metadata. MCV
METADATA_REPORT Metadata Report A group of qualitative or quantitative information about the object to which this group is attached. The definition of the structure and allowable content of this information is defined in the Metadata Attributes contained in a Report Structure of a Metadata Structure Definition. IM
METADATA_REPORT_MESSAGE Metadata Report Message Exchange of reference metadata according to a specific MSD. UG
METADATA_STRUCTURE_DEFINITION Metadata Structure Definition A collection of metadata concepts, their structure and usage when used to collect or disseminate reference metadata. MCV
METADATA_TARGET Metadata Target A set of components that define a key of an object type to which metadata may be attached. IM
METADATA_TARGET_REGION Metadata Target Region A set of Components and their values that defines a sub set or “slice” of the total range of possible content of a metadata structure to which the Constrainable Artefact is linked. IM
METADATA_REPOSITORY Metadata repository A logically central statistical repository that allows for querying, editing and managing of metadata. MCV
METADATASET MetadataSet Any organised collection of metadata. MCV
METADATAFLOW_DEFINITION_IM Metadataflow Definition Abstract concept (i.e. the structure without any metadata) of a flow of metadata that providers will provide for different reference periods. IM
METADATAFLOW_DEFINITION_MCV Metadataflow Definition A collection of metadata concepts, structure and usage when used to collect or disseminate reference metadata. MCV
METAMODEL Metamodel (from MCV) A data model that specifies one or more other data models. The metamodel provides a framework for understanding the important metadata that needs to be captured when describing data.
MIXED_CONTENT Mixed content Elements which contain both textual and structure (child element content). Example: Mixed content element
MODELLING Modelling The activity of developing a model.
NCNAME NCName A name of an XML structural object (element or attribute). An NCName begins with a letter or the “_” character, followed by any combination of letters, digits, accents, diacritical marks, periods (.), hyphens (-), and underscores (_) permitted in the XML specification
NSI NSI National Statistical Institute. UG
NAMESPACE Namespace An XML mechanism that provides scope to structural definitions. A namespace is identified by a URN. Any namespace may define its own unique set of structural objects (elements and attributes).
NAMESPACE_DECLARATION Namespace Declaration A mechanism in a XML document that identifies the namespace for an element. This is contained in the reserved xmlns attribute. Example:
NAMESPACE_PREFIX Namespace Prefix A mechanism in XML documents that allows an abbreviated alias to be used in place of a full namespace declaration. A prefix is defined using the xmlns attribute followed by the “:” character, followed by the alias (which must be an NCName). Example: xmnls:myns=”http://www.example.com/mySchema”
NOMENCLATURE Nomenclature A systematic naming of things or a system of names or terms for things. In classification, nomenclature involves a systemic naming of categories or items. MCV
NON_ENUMERATED_ATTRIBUTE_VALUE Non Enumerated Attribute Value The content of a Reported Attribute where this is textual. IM
NOTIFICATION Notification Information disseminated to a person or application as a result of an event in an SDMX registry IM
OLAP OLAP Online Analytical Processing IM
OBJECT Object (from MCV) Anything perceivable or conceivable. In object-oriented design or programming, an object is a concrete realisation of a class that consists of data and the operations associated with that data. An item that a user can manipulate as a single unit to perform a task.
OBJECT_TYPE Object Type A compilation of attributes (object elements) and behaviours (methods or subroutines) encapsulating an entity. UG
OBJECT_CLASS Object class (MCV) A set of ideas, abstractions, or things in the real world that can be identified with explicit boundaries and meaning and whose properties and behaviour follow the same rules.
OBSERVATION Observation The value, at a particular period, of a particular variable. MCV
ONTOLOGY Ontology A formal specification of a conceptualisation, i.e. the objects, concepts and other entities that are assumed to exist in some area of interest and the relationships that hold among them. MCV
OPERATION_UML Operation (UML) The signature of the functionality that can be applied to the objects of the classes
ORGANISATION Organisation An organisation is a unique framework of authority within which a person or persons act, or are designated to act, towards some purpose. MCV
ORGANISATION_MAP Organisation Map Associates a source and target Organisation. IM
ORGANISATION_ROLE Organisation Role The function or activities of an organisation, in statistical processes such as collection, processing and dissemination. MCV
ORGANISATION_SCHEME Organisation Scheme A maintained collection of Organisations. IM
ORGANISATION_SCHEME_MAP Organisation Scheme Map Associates a source and target Organisation Scheme. IM
ORGANISATION_UNIT Organisation Unit A designation in the organisational structure. IM
ORGANISATION_UNIT_SCHEME Organisation Unit Scheme A maintained collection of Organisation Units. IM
ORGANISATION_IDENTIFIER Organisation identifier The identifier assigned to an organization within an organization identification scheme, and unique within that scheme. MCV
PACKAGE Package  
PARENT_CHILD_RELATIONSHIP Parent/child relationship An association of a class to itself which depicts a hierarchy.
POST_SCHEMA_VALIDATION_INFOSET Post Schema Validation Infoset The infoset for an XML document, including information added during the validation process. This information relates the elements of the XML document to the schema structures which define them.
PREFERRED_LANGUAGE Preferred Language Specifies the language to use for textual content. IM
PRIMARY_MEASURE Primary Measure The metadata concept that is the phenomenon to be measured in a data set. In a data set the instance of the measure is often called the observation. IM
PROCESS Process A scheme which defines or documents the operations performed on data or metadata, such as those to validate data or metadata to derive new information according to a given set of rules. IM
PROCESS_STEP Process Step A specific operation, performed on data or metadata in order to validate or to derive new information according to a given set of rules. IM
PROCESSING_INSTRUCTIONS Processing Instructions A mechanism in a XML document to convey application information to the XML processor. It is typically use to embed application-specific information into XML documents.
PROVISION_AGREEMENT_IM Provision Agreement Links the data provider to the relevant Structure Usage (e.g. Dataflow Definition or Metadataflow Definition) for which the provider supplies data or metadata The agreement may constrain the scope of the data or metadata that can be provided. IM
PROVISION_AGREEMENT_MCV Provision Agreement Arrangement within which the provider supplies data or metadata. MCV
PROVISIONING_METADATA Provisioning Metadata The structural constructs that describe the reporting or dissemination of data or metadata by a specified data provider according to a specific dataflow. IM
PUBLICATION_PERIOD Publication Period The period of publication of the data or metadata in terms of whatever provisioning agreements might be in force. IM
PUBLICATION_YEAR Publication Year The year of publication of the data or metadata in terms of whatever provisioning agreements might be in force. IM
PULL_REPORTING_METHOD Pull (reporting method) The exchange of data or metadata by means of the data/metadata provider making the data/metadata available for download in an SDMX-conformant form, either as a file or as a result of processing an SDMX-conformant query, via a web service running on the provider’s server. UG
PUSH_REPORTING_METHOD Push (reporting method) The exchange of data or metadata by means of sending the data or metadata to the recipient. IM
QNAME Qname An XML qualified name. This consists of a namespace definition (prefix) and a element name. Example: myNs:ElementName
QUERY_DATASOURCE Query Datasource A data or metadata web service which can process an SDMX data or metadata query. IM
REST_DATASOURCE_IM REST Datasource A data or reference metadata source that is accessible via a RESTful web services interface. IM
REST_DATASOURCE_GEN REST datasource A data source that is accessible via a REST interface.
RSS RSS Really Simple Syndication. UG
RAW_DATA Raw Data Data that has been collected from a collection instrument (e.g. questionnaire or survey) but which has not been processed. IM
REFERENCE_METADATA_UG Reference Metadata metadata that describe the contents and the quality of the statistical data (conceptual metadata, describing the concepts used and their practical implementation, methodological metadata, describing methods used for the generation of the data, and quality metadata, describing the different quality dimensions of the resulting statistics, e.g. timeliness, accuracy). While these reference metadata exist and may be exchanged independently of the data (and its underlying structural metadata), they are often linked (“referenced”) to the data
REFERENCE_METADATA_MCV Reference Metadata Metadata describing the contents and the quality of the statistical data. MCV
REFERENCE_PERIOD Reference Period The period of time or point in time to which the measured observation is intended to refer. MCV
REGISTRATION Registration Information submitted to an SDMX registry concerning the location of data or metadata and the type service that can be invoked to retrieve it. IM
REGISTRATION_AUTHORITY Registration Authority Organization responsible for maintaining a register. MCV
REGISTRY_ITEM Registry Item Metadata item recorded in a Registry. MCV
REGISTRY_LOGICAL_MODEL Registry Logical Model A conceptual model of the SDMX registry.
REGISTRY_METAMODEL Registry Metamodel A metamodel specifying a metadata registry. MCV
REGISTRY_SERVICES Registry Services The activities of an SDMX registry from a user or application perspective. IM
RELATIONSHIP Relationship (from MCV) A connection among model elements.
REPORT_STRUCTURE Report Structure Defines a set of concepts that comprises the Metadata Attributes to be reported in an Metadata Set. IM
REPORTED_ATTRIBUTED Reported Attribute The value for a Metadata Attribute. IM
REPORTING_BEGIN Reporting Begin A specific time period in a known system of time periods that identifies the start period of a report. IM
REPORTING_CATEGORY Reporting Category A component of a Reporting Taxonomy that gives structure to a report and links to data and metadata. IM
REPORTING_END Reporting End A specific time period in a known system of time periods that identifies the end period of a report. IM
REPORTING_TAXONOMY Reporting Taxonomy A scheme which defines the composition structure of a data report where each component can be described by an independent Dataflow Definition or Metadataflow Definition. IM
REPORTING_YEAR_START_DAY Reporting Year Start Day A specialised Data Attribute whose value is used in conjunction with the predefined reporting periods in the Time Dimension. If this is not present, then by default all reporting period values for the Time Dimension will be assumed to be based on a reporting year start day of January 1. IM
REPORTING_AGENCY Reporting agency The organisation that supplies the data for a given instance of the statistics. MCV
REPRESENTATION Representation The allowable value or format for Component or Concept IM
REPRESENTATION_MAPPING Representation Mapping Defines the mapping of the content of the source Component to the content of the target Component IM
RESTRICTION Restriction A XSD construct in which a complex type derives its content from another base complex type. The derived complex places restriction on the base type, by substitution some of the elements and/or changing the usage of elements or attribute (in which case they cannot occur less than or more than required in the base complex type)
ROLL_UP Roll Up The aggregation of observation values to a higher level in a hierarchic system of identification. IM
ROOT_ELEMENT Root Element The first element in a XML document. An XML document may only contain one root element.
SAX SAX An API for event drive XML processing.
SDMX_INFORMATION_MODEL SDMX Information Model (SDMX-IM) A conceptual model of representing the human understanding of the scope and the constructs of the artefacts in an SDMX system. IM
SDMX_REGISTRY_INTERFACE SDMX Registry Interface The SDMX-ML specification of the allowable constructs that an SDMX Registry must consume or respond. IM
SDMX_REGISTRY SDMX registry An application which stores structural metadata and data and metadata registrations for maintenance and querying, and which can be used by any other application in the network with sufficient access privileges. IM
SDMX SDMX, Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange Set of technical standards and content-oriented guidelines, together with an IT architecture and tools, to be used for the efficient exchange and sharing of statistical data and metadata. MCV
SDMX_EDI SDMX-EDI UN/EDIFACT format for exchange of SDMX-structured data and metadata. MCV
SDMX_ML SDMX-ML XML format for the exchange of SDMX-structured data and metadata. MCV
SGML SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) A standard for defining descriptions of structure and content of electronic document.
SOAP SOAP Simple Object Access Protocol. This is an XML formatted “envelope” around the XML content submitted to a web service that gives information to the web service that will assist the web service in the processing of the submitted XML content. This may be as simple as identifying the function to be performed by the web
SOAP_XML SOAP The standard for web services messages. Based on XML, SOAP defines an envelope format and various rules for describing its contents.
SOAP_DATASOURCE SOAP Datasource A data or reference metadata source that conforms to a SOAP web service interface. IM
SQL SQL Structured Query Language UG
SCHEMA_XML Schema A structural definition of an XML document which defines which elements may be used and the details of those elements. The details of the elements may include child elements (including sequence and number of occurrences) and attributes.
SCHEMA_BINDINGS Schema Bindings The rules by which SDMX-ML schemas are constructed from a Data Structure Definition or a Metadata Structure Definition. UG
SCHEMA_LOCATION Schema Location A mechanism that can be used in a XML document to provide hints as to the physical location of schema documents which define the structure of the XML. This is accomplished using the schemaLocation attribute defined in the xsi namespace. The content of the attribute is a pair of namespace and location values separated by spaces. The location values can be a full or relative path. Example: xsi:schemaLocation=”http://www.example.com/mySchema ../../mySchema.xsd”/>
SCHEMA_STRUCTURES Schema Structures The data types defined in a schema which define the structural content of a XML document.
SENDING_ORGANISATION Sending organisation Agency that sends data to one or more receiving agencies during a data exchange. MCV
SEQUENCE_XML Sequence A XSD construct for defining an ordered set of element content.
SERIES_KEY Series Key Comprises the cross product of values of all the Key Values that together identify uniquely an Observation. IM
SET_ID Set Id Identification of a data set. IM
SIMPLE_ASSOCIATION_UML Simple Association (UML) An association which does not infer any ownership between the two classes that it relates
SIMPLE_DATA_TYPE Simple Data Type A structural definition of an element which can contain only text.
SIMPLE_TYPE Simple Type A XSD construct for defining a simple data type (which is a XML document object containing only text).
SIMPLE_DATA_SOURCE Simple data source A file of SDMX-formatted data available at a URL. IM
SOFTWARE_PACKAGE_LANGUAGE_VERSION Software Package Software LanguageSoftware Version Information about the software that is used to perform a computation. IM
SOURCE_URL Source URL The URL of a data or metadata set. IM
START_TAG Start Tag The beginning of an element. The tag consists of the “<” character followed by the element name. The element name can optionally be followed by attribute declarations. The start tag is completed by the “>” character. Examples:
START_TIME Start Time The time of the commencement of a time period represented by a duration. IM
STATISTICAL_CONCEPT_UG Statistical concept A statistical characteristic of a time series or an observation. It can be coded (i.e. taking values from a code list) or uncoded.
STATISTICAL_CONCEPT_MCV Statistical concept A statistical characteristic of data. MCV
STATISTICAL_MESSAGE Statistical message A message carrying statistical data.
STATISTICAL_METADATA Statistical metadata Data about statistical data. MCV
STATISTICAL_METADATA_SYSTEM Statistical metadata system A data processing system that uses, stores and produces statistical metadata. MCV
STRUCTURAL_METADATA_UG Structural Metadata Those metadata acting as identifiers and descriptors of the data, such as names of variables or dimensions of statistical cubes. Data must be associated to some structural metadata, otherwise it becomes impossible to properly identify, retrieve and browse the data UG
STRUCTURAL_METADATA_MCV Structural Metadata Metadata that act as identifiers and descriptors of the data. MCV
STRUCTURAL_METADATA_REPOSITORY Structural Metadata Repository A storage medium for structural metadata. IM
STRUCTURAL_DEFINITION Structural definition Statistical concepts, key families and code lists defined by a centre institution (usually for the exchange of statistical information with its partners). MCV
STRUCTURE Structure Abstract specification of a list of lists to define a multidimensional structure. A concrete example of this would be statistical concepts, code lists, and their organisation in a data or metadata structure definition. IM
STRUCTURE_MAP Structure Map Links a source and target structure where there is a semantic equivalence between the source and the target structures. IM
STRUCTURE_SET Structure Set A maintainable collection of structural maps that link components together in a source/target relationship where there is a semantic equivalence between the source and the target components. IM
STRUCTURE_SPECIFIC_DATA_SET Structure Specific Data Set A data format structure that contains data corresponding to one specific Data Structure Definition. IM
STRUCTURE_SPECIFIC_TIMESERIES_DATA_SET Structure Specific Timeseries Data Set A data format structure that is able to contain timeseries data corresponding to any Data Structure Definition. IM
STRUCTURE_USAGE Structure Usage The abstract concept of an artefact that uses a Structure such as a Key Family or a Metadata Structure Definition. These concrete artefacts are Dataflow and Metadataflow. IM
SUB_CLASS_UML Sub Class (UML) A class which inherits properties and associations from a super class.
SUBSCRIPTION Subscription Indication that a person or application is to be notified when a predefined event occurs in an SDMX registry. IM
SUBSCRIPTION_AND_NOTIFICATION_SERVICE Subscription and Notification Service A registry web service that supports subscription and notification IM
SUBSTITUTION_GROUP Substitution Group A XSD construct in which a the usage of a global element in a XML document may be replaced with another global element which defines the base global elements as its substitution group. The substituted element must validly derive its content from the content of the base element.
SUPER_CLASS_UML Super Class (UML) A class which has one or more sub classes. The super class may be an abstract or a concrete class.
SYNTAX Syntax The relationships among characters or groups of characters, independent of their meanings or the manner of their interpretation and use; the structure of expressions in a language, and the rules governing the structure of a language. MCV
TARGET_OBJECT_KEY Target Object Key Identifies the key of the object to which the metadata are to be attached. IM
TARGET_OBJECT_VALUE Target Object Value The key of an individual object of the type specified in the Metadata Target of the Metadata Structure Definition. IM
TAXONOMY Taxonomy Classification of things according to a presumed relationship among types and subtypes. MCV
TEXT_ATTRIBUTE_VALUE Text Attribute Value This value of a Reported Attribute where the content is human readable text. IM
TIME_KEY_VALUE Time Key Value The value of the Time Dimension component of the key. IM
TIME_PERIOD_IM Time Period A point in time that characterises the occurrence of a certain condition, event, or phenomenon. IM
TIME_PERIOD_MCV Time Period The period of time or point in time to which the measured observation refers. MCV
TIME_SERIES Time series A set of ordered observations on a quantitative characteristic of an individual or collective phenomenon taken at different points of time. MCV
TIMESERIES Timeseries A set of data containing observations each of which can be identified by a unique key by which the observation is cross classified (Time Series Key) and the time period of the observation. IM
TRANSITION Transition An expression in a textual or formalised way of the transformation of data between two specific operations (Processes) performed on the data. IM
URI URI Universal resource identifier. It is constructed according syntax rules published by the World Wide Web Consortium. IM
URL URL Universal resource locator. This is a unique identifier of a resource available on the Internet. It is constructed according syntax rules published by the World Wide Web Consortium. IM
URN URN Universal resource name. This is a unique identifier of an object on a global scale. It is constructed according syntax rules published by the World Wide Web Consortium. IM
UTF_8 UTF-8 A character set used in data processing systems. UG
UNCODED_KEY_VALUE UnCoded Key Value The content of a component of a key (e.g. a time series key) whose representation is non-enumerated (e.g. this can be text, integer, date/time etc.). IM
UNCODED_ATTRIBUTE_VALUE Uncoded Attribute Value The content of an attribute when reported in a data or metadata set whose representation is non-enumerated (e.g. this can be text, integer, date/time etc.) IM
UNCODED_OBSERVATION Uncoded Observation The content of an observation when reported in a data set whose representation is non-enumerated (e.g. this can be text, integer, date/time etc.). IM
UML Unified Modelling Language (UML) A family of graphical notations that help in describing and designing software systems, particularly software systems built using the object-oriented style. The UML is controlled by the Object Management Group (OMG)
UNION Union A XSD construct for combing simple type definitions
UNIQUENESS_CONSTRAINT Uniqueness Constraint A XSD construct in which an element can declare the certain descendant elements must be unique based on certain criteria.
USAGE_STATUS Usage status Indication of the dependency of the presence of a component in a group of components. Usual values are mandatory, conditional. IM
USE_CLASS_UML Use Case (UML) A sequence of actions a system performs that yields an observable result of value to a particular actor.
UTILITY_DATA_MESSAGE Utility Data Message For schema-based functions, such as validation, in a data structure definition-dependent form UG
VALID_FROM Valid From The inclusive date from which an object becomes active in a system. IM
VALID_TO Valid To The inclusive date from which an object becomes inactive in a system. IM
VALID_XML Valid XML XML that is well formed and conforms to the structures that are defined in a schema.
VALIDITY_PERIOD Validity Period A time interval that defines when an object is active in a system. IM
VALUE_DOMAIN Value Domain A set of permissible values. MCV
VALUE_MEANING Value Meaning The meaning or semantic content of a value.
VERSION Version A construct that enables a system to distinguish between one state of an object from another, usually where the contents of the object have changed. This construct is a part of the unique identification of the object. IM
VERSIONABLE_ARTEFACT Versionable Artefact A construct that is capable of distinguishing one version of an object from another IM
VERSIONING Versioning The process of assigning a unique state to an object. IM
W3C W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) an international organization which defines standards for the internet.
WSDURL WSDURL Association to the URL of the web service definition language profile of the web service. IM
WEB_PORTAL Web Portal a single place on the Internet where users can come to get all of the data and metadata for a particular domain, or for a topic or set of related topics UG
WEB_SERVICE Web Service A service made available on the Internet accessed via an API (application programme interface) which, in SDMX, use either REST (URL parameterised) or SOAP (XML) interfaces. UG
WEB_SERVICE_DATASOURCE Web Service Datasource A data or reference metadata source which can process a data or metadata query. IM
WSDL Web Service Definition Language (WSDL) The (XML) specification of the input to and output from a web service IM
WELL_FORMED_XML Well Formed XML that follows the XML tag rules listed in the W3C Recommendation for XML 1.0. A well-formed XML document contains one or more elements; it has a single document element, with any other elements properly nested under it;
WILDCARD Wildcard An indication that the content of a construct in a query is deemed to be “all”. IM
XHTML XHTML HTML that is constructed in strict accordance with the XML specification. IM
XHTML_XML XHTML HTML markup formatted as valid XML.
XML XML (Extensible Markup Language) A specialization of SGML developed by W3C which allows for the creation of custom document structures. It is designed specifically for web documents.
XML_DECLARATION XML Declaration The first line of an XML file, which denotes it as an XML document. Example:
XML_DOCUMENT XML Document A document object that is well formed according to the XML recommendation.
XML_PARSER XML Parser An application which can read an XML document and provide its contents. A parser may or may not perform validation of the XML document.
XML_PROCESSOR XML Processor An application which can read an XML document and provide its contents. A parser may or may not perform validation of the XML document.
XPATH XPath A syntax for addressing parts of an XML document. This is part of XSL.
XQUERY XQuery A language for querying XML documents.
XSD XSD (XML Schema Definition) A language defined by the W3C for describing the structure of XML documents.
XSL XSL (Extensible Stylesheet Language) An XML based language for transforming XML documents into other formats, such as other XML documents, HTML, text, and PDF.
XSL_FO XSL-FO (XSL Formatting Objects) Part of XSL which defines presentational processing instructions for XML. This is typically used to generate PDF documents.
XSLT XSLT (XSL Transformations) Part of XSL which defines the rules for accessing parts of an XML document and outputting the contents to another format.
XSI Xsi A common prefix assigned the namespace, “http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance”, which is defined in the XML Schema: Structures specification. This namespace provides attributes for use in XML documents that provide information about the structure of the elements in the document. The attributes defined in this namespace may be used in any element defined by an XML schema.
XSI_TYPE Xsi type A mechanism in an XML document which can be used to explicitly state the underlying structure of an element. The structure is typically implied from the details of the element (its name and location in the document hierarchy), but can be modified using this mechanism. T This is accomplished using the type attribute defined in the xsi namespace. The content of the attribute is the Qname of the type Example: xsi:Type=”myns:MyType”
DOCUMENTATION documentation A XSD construct used in an annotation which contains the text of the document for the object.
IMPLEMENTATION_MODEL implementation model A model which is intended to be processed by a software tool. This tool may create implementation objects such as java objects, or an XML schema.
IS_EXTERNAL_REFERENCE isExternalReference Indicates whether an object is available in the metadata source that contains its identifier or whether the object itself is available elsewhere. IM
IS_INCLUDED isIncluded Indicates whether the contained values of a container object is to be included or excluded from the valid list of values. IM
REGISTRY_URI registryURI The unique address of a web service that will return the object when queried using the SDMX Registry Interface. IM
STRUCTURE_URI structureURI The unique address of a web service that will return the object when queried using the SDMX Query Message. IM