CCXXXYYNNNNN

CCXXXYYNNNNN is a fictional alphanumeric identifier pattern used in information science and data management to illustrate how multi-component codes can encode metadata within a single string. The format is not an official standard but is commonly employed in textbooks and case studies to demonstrate parsing and normalization of identifiers.

The string consists of four elements: CC is a two-letter collection or category code; XXX is a three-letter subcategory or object-type field; YY is a two-digit year or accession date; NNNNN is a five-digit serial number assigned within the same category and year. In practice, implementations may substitute actual codes for these placeholders, and the meaning of each segment can vary by institution.

The advantages of such a structure include easier sorting by category, year, and serial, as well as compact data transfer. It also enables straightforward validation and error-detection when used with fixed-length fields. However, because CCXXXYYNNNNN is not a universally adopted standard, organizations typically map its segments to their own metadata schemas rather than enforcing a uniform interpretation.

Example: CCABC2109876 demonstrates the pattern, where CC denotes the collection, ABC the subcategory, 21 the year, and 09876 the serial number.

Related concepts include accession numbers, catalog identifiers, and other fixed-length code systems used in libraries, museums, and archives.