KanaalIDs

KanaalID, or kanaalIDs, refers to a unique identifier assigned to a channel within a software system or service. It is distinct from a channel’s display name or URL. KanaalIDs are designed to be stable references that software components can use to identify a channel even when its label changes.

Use and scope: KanaalIDs are used to route messages, retrieve channel metadata, enforce access control, and log activity. They enable deterministic references across user interfaces, APIs, and integrations. They are typically unique within a given deployment, organization, or tenant, and may be numeric or alphanumeric.

Format and management: The format of a kanaalID varies; some systems use auto-incrementing integers, others use GUIDs or opaque strings. KanaalIDs are often stored as primary keys in databases and are kept separate from human-friendly names. A mapping between kanaalID and display name is maintained for presentation purposes.

Context and examples: In messaging platforms, a channel ID identifies a chat room. In streaming services, a channel ID may refer to a content channel. In enterprise or IoT systems, channels correspond to data streams or communication paths; kanaalIDs identify these channels in logs, metrics, and APIs.

Security and design considerations: Treat kanaalIDs as stable invariants; avoid exposing sensitive structural details. Implement authorization checks when accessing channels, and plan for schema changes and migrations. Document the semantics of IDs within APIs and developer guides to ensure consistent reference across components.