Rapportnummer

Rapportnummer is a term used in some Nordic languages, notably Swedish and Norwegian, to denote a report number. It refers to a unique identifier assigned to a specific report, study, or technical document to aid reference, cataloging, and retrieval. The concept is used by government agencies, universities, research institutes, and corporations to organize and track publications.

The format and placement of a rapportnummer vary by organization. It is often printed on the cover or title page and may appear in the document’s header, footer, or metadata. Typical components can include a year, a department or program code, and a sequential number, and some institutions append revision or edition indicators. Because there is no universal standard, rapportnummer formats differ between agencies, projects, and libraries.

Purpose and use of rapportnummer include facilitating precise citation, improving search and discovery in catalogs and repositories, and supporting version control. The number serves as a stable reference that remains attached to the document even if the title changes. It is distinct from search terms like the title or keywords and is primarily an administrative or bibliographic tool.

In practice, rapportnummer functions as an internal and external identifier for official publications and research outputs in Nordic contexts. While widely used in institutions across Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, the exact format and application depend on the issuing organization. Researchers and librarians leverage rapportnummer to manage collections, reference materials accurately, and link related documents.