Identifierits

Identifierits is a term used in information management to describe a framework for managing multiple identifiers attached to a single entity across diverse systems. The concept emphasizes cross-system linkage, provenance, and resilience to changes in any one system's identifiers.

An identifierit typically has a type (the namespace or scheme), a value (the literal identifier), a scope (global, local, or context-bound), and a lifecycle state (active, deprecated, or retired). Entities may possess several identifierits that serve different purposes, such as global resolvability, internal referencing, or privacy-preserving pseudonyms. Resolving an identifierit means mapping it to the corresponding entity and, if possible, to other identifierits linked to that entity.

Applications include data integration, bibliographic records, research data management, digital libraries, and identity resolution across organizations. For example, an academic author might have a DOI for works, an ORCID for identity, and an internal institutional ID; together these form an identifierit set that enables finding and validating the author's contributions across systems.

Implementation often involves registries or resolvers, governance policies, and metadata standards to describe identifierits. Privacy and security considerations are central, as identifierits may reveal or consolidate sensitive information. Lifecycle management, versioning, and de-duplication are common tasks.

Critics argue that relying on multiple identifiers can increase complexity and risk of fragmentation if not properly coordinated. Proponents see identifierits as a practical approach to interoperability and data provenance.