Identifier
type: StructureDefinition
node role: treeRoot
id:
  v: Identifier
text:
  status:
    v: generated
  div:
    v: Name Flags Card. Type Description & Constraints<img src="[binary]" alt="doco" style="background-color: inherit"/> <img src="[binary]" alt="." style="background-color: white; background-color: inherit" title="Element" class="hierarchy"/> Identifier ΣN Element An identifier intended for computation + Warning: Identifier with no value has limited utility. If communicating that an identifier value has been suppressed or missing, the value element SHOULD be present with an extension indicating the missing semantic - e.g. data-absent-reason Elements defined in Ancestors: id, <a href="types.html#Element" title="May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. To make the use of extensions safe and managable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.">extension #xD; use ?!Σ 0..1 code usual | official | temp | secondary | old (If known) Binding: IdentifierUse (Required) #xD; <img src="[binary]" alt="." style="background-color: white; background-color: inherit" title="Data Type" class="hierarchy"/> type Σ 0..1 CodeableConcept Description of identifier Binding: Identifier Type Codes (Extensible) #xD; system Σ 0..1 uri The namespace for the identifier value #xD; value ΣC 0..1 string The value that is unique #xD; <img src="[binary]" alt="." style="background-color: #F7F7F7; background-color: inherit" title="Data Type" class="hierarchy"/> period Σ 0..1 Period Time period when id is/was valid for use #xD; <img src="[binary]" alt="." style="background-color: white; background-color: inherit" title="Reference to another Resource" class="hierarchy"/> assigner Σ 0..1 Reference(Organization) Organization that issued id (may be just text) #xD; <img src="[binary]" alt="doco" style="background-color: inherit"/> Documentation for this format
extension:
  url:
    v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/structuredefinition-standards-status
    l: structuredefinition-standards-status
  value: Code
    v: normative
extension:
  url:
    v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/structuredefinition-wg
    l: structuredefinition-wg
  value: Code
    v: fhir
url:
  v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/Identifier
  l: Identifier
version:
  v: 6.0.0-ballot4
name:
  v: Identifier
status:
  v: active
experimental:
  v: false
date:
  v: 2026-06-16T12:02:18+00:00
publisher:
  v: HL7 International / FHIR Infrastructure
contact:
  telecom:
    system:
      v: url
    value:
      v: http://hl7.org/fhir
contact:
  telecom:
    system:
      v: url
    value:
      v: http://www.hl7.org/Special/committees/fiwg
description:
  v: Identifier Type: An identifier - identifies some entity uniquely and unambiguously. Typically this is used for business identifiers.
jurisdiction:
  coding:
    system:
      v: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49.htm
      l: m49.htm
    code:
      v: 001
    display:
      v: World
purpose:
  v: Need to be able to identify things with confidence and be sure that the identification is not subject to misinterpretation.
fhir version:
  v: 6.0.0-ballot4
mapping:
  identity:
    v: v2
  uri:
    v: http://hl7.org/v2
    l: v2
  name:
    v: HL7 V2 Mapping
mapping:
  identity:
    v: rim
  uri:
    v: http://hl7.org/v3
    l: v3
  name:
    v: RIM Mapping
mapping:
  identity:
    v: servd
  uri:
    v: http://www.omg.org/spec/ServD/1.0/
    l: http://www.omg.org/spec/ServD/1.0/
  name:
    v: ServD
kind:
  v: complex-type
abstract:
  v: false
type:
  v: Identifier
  l: Identifier
base definition:
  v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/DataType
  l: DataType
derivation:
  v: specialization
snapshot:
  element:
    id:
      v: Identifier
    path:
      v: Identifier
    short:
      v: An identifier intended for computation
    definition:
      v: An identifier - identifies some entity uniquely and unambiguously. Typically this is used for business identifiers.
    comment:
      v: The rules of the identifier.type determine if a check digit is part of the ID value or sent separately, such as through the checkDigit extension.
    min:
      v: 0
    max:
      v: *
    base:
      path:
        v: Identifier
      min:
        v: 0
      max:
        v: *
    constraint:
      key:
        v: ele-1
      severity:
        v: error
      human:
        v: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children
      expression:
        v: hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())
      source:
        v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/Element
        l: Element
    constraint:
      key:
        v: ident-1
      severity:
        v: warning
      human:
        v: Identifier with no value has limited utility. If communicating that an identifier value has been suppressed or missing, the value element SHOULD be present with an extension indicating the missing semantic - e.g. data-absent-reason
      expression:
        v: value.exists()
      source:
        v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/Identifier
        l: Identifier
    is modifier:
      v: false
    mapping:
      identity:
        v: rim
      map:
        v: n/a,II - The Identifier class is a little looser than the v3 type II because it allows URIs as well as registered OIDs or GUIDs. Also maps to Role[classCode=IDENT]
    mapping:
      identity:
        v: v2
      map:
        v: CX / EI (occasionally, more often EI maps to a resource id or a URL)
    mapping:
      identity:
        v: servd
      map:
        v: Identifier
  element:
    id:
      v: Identifier.id
    path:
      v: Identifier.id
    representation:
      v: xmlAttr
    short:
      v: Unique id for inter-element referencing
    definition:
      v: Unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references). This may be any string value that does not contain spaces.
    min:
      v: 0
    max:
      v: 1
    base:
      path:
        v: Element.id
      min:
        v: 0
      max:
        v: 1
    type:
      extension:
        value: Url
      code:
        v: http://hl7.org/fhirpath/System.String
        l: System.String
    condition:
      v: ele-1
    is modifier:
      v: false
    is summary:
      v: false
    mapping:
      identity:
        v: rim
      map:
        v: n/a

Url
v: string
l: string

id:
  v: Identifier.extension
path:
  v: Identifier.extension
slicing:
  discriminator:
    type:
      v: value
    path:
      v: url
  description:
    v: Extensions are always sliced by (at least) url
  rules:
    v: open
short:
  v: Additional content defined by implementations
definition:
  v: May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. To make the use of extensions safe and managable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.
comment:
  v: There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.
alias:
  v: extensions
alias:
  v: user content
min:
  v: 0
max:
  v: *
base:
  path:
    v: Element.extension
  min:
    v: 0
  max:
    v: *
type:
  code:
    v: Extension
    l: Extension
constraint:
  key:
    v: ele-1
  severity:
    v: error
  human:
    v: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children
  expression:
    v: hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())
  source:
    v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/Element
    l: Element
is modifier:
  v: false
is summary:
  v: false
mapping:
  identity:
    v: rim
  map:
    v: n/a

id:
  v: Identifier.use
path:
  v: Identifier.use
short:
  v: usual | official | temp | secondary | old (If known)
definition:
  v: The purpose of this identifier.
comment:
  v: Applications can assume that an identifier is permanent unless it explicitly says that it is temporary.
requirements:
  v: Allows the appropriate identifier for a particular context of use to be selected from among a set of identifiers.
min:
  v: 0
max:
  v: 1
base:
  path:
    v: Identifier.use
  min:
    v: 0
  max:
    v: 1
type:
  code:
    v: code
    l: code
constraint:
  key:
    v: ele-1
  severity:
    v: error
  human:
    v: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children
  expression:
    v: hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())
  source:
    v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/Element
    l: Element
is modifier:
  v: true
is modifier reason:
  v: This is labeled as "Is Modifier" because applications should not mistake a temporary id for a permanent one.
is summary:
  v: true
binding:
  extension:
    url:
      v: http://hl7.org/fhir/tools/StructureDefinition/binding-definition
      l: binding-definition
    value: Markdown
      v: Identifies the purpose for this identifier, if known .
  extension:
    url:
      v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/elementdefinition-bindingName
      l: elementdefinition-bindingName
    value: String
      v: IdentifierUse
  strength:
    v: required
  description:
    v: Identifies the purpose for this identifier, if known .
  value set:
    v: http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/identifier-use|6.0.0-ballot4
    l: http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/identifier-use
mapping:
  identity:
    v: v2
  map:
    v: N/A
mapping:
  identity:
    v: rim
  map:
    v: Role.code or implied by context

id:
  v: Identifier.type
path:
  v: Identifier.type
short:
  v: Description of identifier
definition:
  v: A coded type for the identifier that can be used to determine which identifier to use for a specific purpose.
comment:
  v: This element deals only with general categories of identifiers. It SHOULD not be used for codes that correspond 1..1 with the Identifier.system. Some identifiers may fall into multiple categories due to common usage. Where the system is known, a type is unnecessary because the type is always part of the system definition. However systems often need to handle identifiers where the system is not known. There is not a 1:1 relationship between type and system, since many different systems have the same type.
requirements:
  v: Allows users to make use of identifiers when the identifier system is not known.
min:
  v: 0
max:
  v: 1
base:
  path:
    v: Identifier.type
  min:
    v: 0
  max:
    v: 1
type:
  code:
    v: CodeableConcept
    l: CodeableConcept
constraint:
  key:
    v: ele-1
  severity:
    v: error
  human:
    v: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children
  expression:
    v: hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())
  source:
    v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/Element
    l: Element
is modifier:
  v: false
is summary:
  v: true
binding:
  extension:
    url:
      v: http://hl7.org/fhir/tools/StructureDefinition/binding-definition
      l: binding-definition
    value: Markdown
      v: A coded type for an identifier that can be used to determine which identifier to use for a specific purpose.
  extension:
    url:
      v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/elementdefinition-bindingName
      l: elementdefinition-bindingName
    value: String
      v: IdentifierType
  extension:
    url:
      v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/elementdefinition-isCommonBinding
      l: elementdefinition-isCommonBinding
    value: Boolean
      v: true
  strength:
    v: extensible
  description:
    v: A coded type for an identifier that can be used to determine which identifier to use for a specific purpose.
  value set:
    v: http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/identifier-type
    l: identifier-type
mapping:
  identity:
    v: v2
  map:
    v: CX.5
mapping:
  identity:
    v: rim
  map:
    v: Role.code or implied by context

id:
  v: Identifier.system
path:
  v: Identifier.system
short:
  v: The namespace for the identifier value
definition:
  v: Establishes the namespace for the value - that is, an absolute URL that describes a set values that are unique.
comment:
  v: Identifier.system is always case sensitive. The FHIR specification, terminology.hl7.org and HL7 affiliates (for identifiers specific to their jurisdiction) define identifier systems that SHALL be used for certain types of identifiers. Specific rules can be found [here](identifier-registry.html).
requirements:
  v: There are many sets of identifiers. To perform matching of two identifiers, we need to know what set we're dealing with. The system identifies a particular set of unique identifiers.
min:
  v: 0
max:
  v: 1
base:
  path:
    v: Identifier.system
  min:
    v: 0
  max:
    v: 1
type:
  code:
    v: uri
    l: uri
example:
  label:
    v: General
  value: Uri
    v: http://www.acme.com/identifiers/patient
    l: patient
constraint:
  key:
    v: ele-1
  severity:
    v: error
  human:
    v: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children
  expression:
    v: hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())
  source:
    v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/Element
    l: Element
is modifier:
  v: false
is summary:
  v: true
mapping:
  identity:
    v: v2
  map:
    v: CX.4 / EI-2-4
mapping:
  identity:
    v: rim
  map:
    v: II.root or Role.id.root
mapping:
  identity:
    v: servd
  map:
    v: ./IdentifierType

id:
  v: Identifier.value
path:
  v: Identifier.value
short:
  v: The value that is unique
definition:
  v: The portion of the identifier typically relevant to the user and which is unique within the context of the system.
comment:
  v: If the value is a full URI, then the system SHALL be urn:ietf:rfc:3986. The value's primary purpose is computational mapping. As a result, it may be normalized for comparison purposes (e.g. removing non-significant whitespace, dashes, etc.) A value formatted for human display can be conveyed using the [http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/rendered-value](https://build.fhir.org/ig/HL7/fhir-extensions/StructureDefinition-rendered-value.html)). Identifier.value is to be treated as case sensitive unless knowledge of the Identifier.system allows the processor to be confident that non-case-sensitive processing is safe.
min:
  v: 0
max:
  v: 1
base:
  path:
    v: Identifier.value
  min:
    v: 0
  max:
    v: 1
type:
  code:
    v: string
    l: string
example:
  label:
    v: General
  value: String
    v: 123456
condition:
  v: ident-1
constraint:
  key:
    v: ele-1
  severity:
    v: error
  human:
    v: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children
  expression:
    v: hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())
  source:
    v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/Element
    l: Element
is modifier:
  v: false
is summary:
  v: true
mapping:
  identity:
    v: v2
  map:
    v: CX.1 / EI.1
mapping:
  identity:
    v: rim
  map:
    v: II.extension or II.root if system indicates OID or GUID (Or Role.id.extension or root)
mapping:
  identity:
    v: servd
  map:
    v: ./Value

id:
  v: Identifier.period
path:
  v: Identifier.period
short:
  v: Time period when id is/was valid for use
definition:
  v: Time period during which identifier is/was valid for use.
min:
  v: 0
max:
  v: 1
base:
  path:
    v: Identifier.period
  min:
    v: 0
  max:
    v: 1
type:
  code:
    v: Period
    l: Period
constraint:
  key:
    v: ele-1
  severity:
    v: error
  human:
    v: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children
  expression:
    v: hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())
  source:
    v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/Element
    l: Element
is modifier:
  v: false
is summary:
  v: true
mapping:
  identity:
    v: v2
  map:
    v: CX.7 + CX.8
mapping:
  identity:
    v: rim
  map:
    v: Role.effectiveTime or implied by context
mapping:
  identity:
    v: servd
  map:
    v: ./StartDate and ./EndDate

id:
  v: Identifier.assigner
path:
  v: Identifier.assigner
short:
  v: Organization that issued id (may be just text)
definition:
  v: Organization that issued/manages the identifier.
comment:
  v: The Identifier.assigner may omit the .reference element and only contain a .display element reflecting the name or other textual information about the assigning organization.
min:
  v: 0
max:
  v: 1
base:
  path:
    v: Identifier.assigner
  min:
    v: 0
  max:
    v: 1
type:
  code:
    v: Reference
    l: Reference
  target profile:
    v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/Organization
    l: Organization
constraint:
  key:
    v: ele-1
  severity:
    v: error
  human:
    v: All FHIR elements must have a @value or children
  expression:
    v: hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())
  source:
    v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/Element
    l: Element
is modifier:
  v: false
is summary:
  v: true
mapping:
  identity:
    v: v2
  map:
    v: CX.4 / (CX.4,CX.9,CX.10)
mapping:
  identity:
    v: rim
  map:
    v: II.assigningAuthorityName but note that this is an improper use by the definition of the field. Also Role.scoper
mapping:
  identity:
    v: servd
  map:
    v: ./IdentifierIssuingAuthority

element:
  id:
    v: Identifier
  path:
    v: Identifier
  short:
    v: An identifier intended for computation
  definition:
    v: An identifier - identifies some entity uniquely and unambiguously. Typically this is used for business identifiers.
  comment:
    v: The rules of the identifier.type determine if a check digit is part of the ID value or sent separately, such as through the checkDigit extension.
  min:
    v: 0
  max:
    v: *
  constraint:
    key:
      v: ident-1
    severity:
      v: warning
    human:
      v: Identifier with no value has limited utility. If communicating that an identifier value has been suppressed or missing, the value element SHOULD be present with an extension indicating the missing semantic - e.g. data-absent-reason
    expression:
      v: value.exists()
    source:
      v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/Identifier
      l: Identifier
  mapping:
    identity:
      v: v2
    map:
      v: CX / EI (occasionally, more often EI maps to a resource id or a URL)
  mapping:
    identity:
      v: rim
    map:
      v: II - The Identifier class is a little looser than the v3 type II because it allows URIs as well as registered OIDs or GUIDs. Also maps to Role[classCode=IDENT]
  mapping:
    identity:
      v: servd
    map:
      v: Identifier
element:
  id:
    v: Identifier.use
  path:
    v: Identifier.use
  short:
    v: usual | official | temp | secondary | old (If known)
  definition:
    v: The purpose of this identifier.
  comment:
    v: Applications can assume that an identifier is permanent unless it explicitly says that it is temporary.
  requirements:
    v: Allows the appropriate identifier for a particular context of use to be selected from among a set of identifiers.
  min:
    v: 0
  max:
    v: 1
  type:
    code:
      v: code
      l: code
  is modifier:
    v: true
  is modifier reason:
    v: This is labeled as "Is Modifier" because applications should not mistake a temporary id for a permanent one.
  is summary:
    v: true
  binding:
    extension:
      url:
        v: http://hl7.org/fhir/tools/StructureDefinition/binding-definition
        l: binding-definition
      value: Markdown
        v: Identifies the purpose for this identifier, if known .
    extension:
      url:
        v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/elementdefinition-bindingName
        l: elementdefinition-bindingName
      value: String
        v: IdentifierUse
    strength:
      v: required
    description:
      v: Identifies the purpose for this identifier, if known .
    value set:
      v: http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/identifier-use|6.0.0-ballot4
      l: http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/identifier-use
  mapping:
    identity:
      v: v2
    map:
      v: N/A
  mapping:
    identity:
      v: rim
    map:
      v: Role.code or implied by context
element:
  id:
    v: Identifier.type
  path:
    v: Identifier.type
  short:
    v: Description of identifier
  definition:
    v: A coded type for the identifier that can be used to determine which identifier to use for a specific purpose.
  comment:
    v: This element deals only with general categories of identifiers. It SHOULD not be used for codes that correspond 1..1 with the Identifier.system. Some identifiers may fall into multiple categories due to common usage. Where the system is known, a type is unnecessary because the type is always part of the system definition. However systems often need to handle identifiers where the system is not known. There is not a 1:1 relationship between type and system, since many different systems have the same type.
  requirements:
    v: Allows users to make use of identifiers when the identifier system is not known.
  min:
    v: 0
  max:
    v: 1
  type:
    code:
      v: CodeableConcept
      l: CodeableConcept
  is summary:
    v: true
  binding:
    extension:
      url:
        v: http://hl7.org/fhir/tools/StructureDefinition/binding-definition
        l: binding-definition
      value: Markdown
        v: A coded type for an identifier that can be used to determine which identifier to use for a specific purpose.
    extension:
      url:
        v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/elementdefinition-bindingName
        l: elementdefinition-bindingName
      value: String
        v: IdentifierType
    extension:
      url:
        v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/elementdefinition-isCommonBinding
        l: elementdefinition-isCommonBinding
      value: Boolean
        v: true
    strength:
      v: extensible
    description:
      v: A coded type for an identifier that can be used to determine which identifier to use for a specific purpose.
    value set:
      v: http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/identifier-type
      l: identifier-type
  mapping:
    identity:
      v: v2
    map:
      v: CX.5
  mapping:
    identity:
      v: rim
    map:
      v: Role.code or implied by context
element:
  id:
    v: Identifier.system
  path:
    v: Identifier.system
  short:
    v: The namespace for the identifier value
  definition:
    v: Establishes the namespace for the value - that is, an absolute URL that describes a set values that are unique.
  comment:
    v: Identifier.system is always case sensitive. The FHIR specification, terminology.hl7.org and HL7 affiliates (for identifiers specific to their jurisdiction) define identifier systems that SHALL be used for certain types of identifiers. Specific rules can be found [here](identifier-registry.html).
  requirements:
    v: There are many sets of identifiers. To perform matching of two identifiers, we need to know what set we're dealing with. The system identifies a particular set of unique identifiers.
  min:
    v: 0
  max:
    v: 1
  type:
    code:
      v: uri
      l: uri
  example:
    label:
      v: General
    value: Uri
      v: http://www.acme.com/identifiers/patient
      l: patient
  is summary:
    v: true
  mapping:
    identity:
      v: v2
    map:
      v: CX.4 / EI-2-4
  mapping:
    identity:
      v: rim
    map:
      v: II.root or Role.id.root
  mapping:
    identity:
      v: servd
    map:
      v: ./IdentifierType

id:
  v: Identifier.value
path:
  v: Identifier.value
short:
  v: The value that is unique
definition:
  v: The portion of the identifier typically relevant to the user and which is unique within the context of the system.
comment:
  v: If the value is a full URI, then the system SHALL be urn:ietf:rfc:3986. The value's primary purpose is computational mapping. As a result, it may be normalized for comparison purposes (e.g. removing non-significant whitespace, dashes, etc.) A value formatted for human display can be conveyed using the [http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/rendered-value](https://build.fhir.org/ig/HL7/fhir-extensions/StructureDefinition-rendered-value.html)). Identifier.value is to be treated as case sensitive unless knowledge of the Identifier.system allows the processor to be confident that non-case-sensitive processing is safe.
min:
  v: 0
max:
  v: 1
type:
  code:
    v: string
    l: string
example:
  label:
    v: General
  value: String
    v: 123456
condition:
  v: ident-1
is summary:
  v: true
mapping:
  identity:
    v: v2
  map:
    v: CX.1 / EI.1
mapping:
  identity:
    v: rim
  map:
    v: II.extension or II.root if system indicates OID or GUID (Or Role.id.extension or root)
mapping:
  identity:
    v: servd
  map:
    v: ./Value

id:
  v: Identifier.period
path:
  v: Identifier.period
short:
  v: Time period when id is/was valid for use
definition:
  v: Time period during which identifier is/was valid for use.
min:
  v: 0
max:
  v: 1
type:
  code:
    v: Period
    l: Period
is summary:
  v: true
mapping:
  identity:
    v: v2
  map:
    v: CX.7 + CX.8
mapping:
  identity:
    v: rim
  map:
    v: Role.effectiveTime or implied by context
mapping:
  identity:
    v: servd
  map:
    v: ./StartDate and ./EndDate

id:
  v: Identifier.assigner
path:
  v: Identifier.assigner
short:
  v: Organization that issued id (may be just text)
definition:
  v: Organization that issued/manages the identifier.
comment:
  v: The Identifier.assigner may omit the .reference element and only contain a .display element reflecting the name or other textual information about the assigning organization.
min:
  v: 0
max:
  v: 1
type:
  code:
    v: Reference
    l: Reference
  target profile:
    v: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/Organization
    l: Organization
is summary:
  v: true
mapping:
  identity:
    v: v2
  map:
    v: CX.4 / (CX.4,CX.9,CX.10)
mapping:
  identity:
    v: rim
  map:
    v: II.assigningAuthorityName but note that this is an improper use by the definition of the field. Also Role.scoper
mapping:
  identity:
    v: servd
  map:
    v: ./IdentifierIssuingAuthority