CSVvorminguid

CSVvorminguid is a term used in data management to denote a unique identifier associated with a CSV file to indicate its formation lineage, origin, and processing steps. The word is a portmanteau of CSV (Comma-Separated Values), vorming (Dutch for formation or creation), and UID (unique identifier). In practice, CSVvorminguid can refer to any convention that attaches or links a UID to a CSV to enable provenance tracking.

The concept serves to improve traceability and reproducibility in data workflows, including extract, transform, and load processes, data integration, and sharing across systems. A CSVvorminguid helps document where the data came from, which pipeline stages were involved, when the file was produced, and which version or transformation it represents. It can be implemented as part of the file name, as metadata embedded in a header or comment, or as a sidecar metadata file.

Common implementations include: embedding a structured identifier in the filename (for example, data_CSVV-20251230T1030Z-SYSX-TRANS1.csv); storing a dedicated metadata header or a separate file such as data.csv.json or data.csv.yaml that contains the CSVvorminguid value; or using a standardized field within a data catalog.

Benefits include improved auditability, easier lineage tracking, and better reproducibility across systems. Limitations include the need for standardization to avoid drift, potential overhead in maintaining metadata, and compatibility considerations with tools that assume plain CSV format.

See also: data provenance, metadata, UUID, CSV.