Elementid

Elementid is a general term used to describe an identifier assigned to a specific element within a collection, document, interface, or data model. It serves to uniquely distinguish that element from others and to enable reliable reference, retrieval, and manipulation across systems. The concept is widely used across disciplines, though the exact terminology and scope vary by domain.

In markup languages, the closest formal construct is the id attribute in HTML and XML. An element’s id is intended to be unique within the document, allowing scripts and styles to target the element efficiently and enabling anchors or fragment identifiers in URLs.

In data modeling and databases, an elementid corresponds to a key value that uniquely identifies a row or node. Primary keys, surrogate keys, or natural keys perform this role. In graph or tree structures, each node may carry an elementid for efficient traversal and lookup.

In programming and user interface frameworks, developers use elementid as a variable name or property to hold the identity of an element, such as a DOM node, component instance, or resource handle. The exact use depends on the language, library, and data model in question.

Best practices for elementid include ensuring uniqueness within the appropriate scope, choosing stable and non-sensitive identifiers where possible, and using consistent encoding (numbers, strings, or UUIDs). It is also important to document the meaning and scope of an elementid within a system to avoid ambiguity and errors.

See also: identifier, id attribute, UUID, primary key.