Dataelementens

Dataelementens are the smallest units of data with a defined meaning within a data model or information system; in English-language literature the standard term is data elements, while the plural form dataelementens appears in some language contexts. A data element combines a semantic definition with a concrete representation in storage or exchange, and in practice it often corresponds to a field or attribute in a database, dataset, or data interchange format.

Attributes commonly associated with a data element include its name or code, a formal definition, the data type (such as integer, string, or date), length or precision, a set of allowed values or code list, nullability, units of measure, and format or representation rules. Many data elements also retain information about their origin or source, ownership, version, and constraints that govern their use and quality.

Standards and centralized repositories play a key role in data element management. The ISO/IEC 11179 framework, for example, defines data elements and value domains to support consistent definitions across systems. Data dictionaries or metadata repositories store these definitions and support governance, lineage, interoperability, and data quality initiatives.

In practice, data elements form the building blocks of data models and data integration. They describe the content of database columns, data file fields, or API payloads, and they are mapped or harmonized when data is exchanged between systems.

Examples include customer_id (a unique identifier, string or integer, length limited, not null), order_date (date, format YYYY-MM-DD), and product_code (string, length 20, with an allowed code list).