Referenssidata

Referenssidata, or reference data, refers to a subset of data that defines valid values and classifications used by multiple information systems to ensure consistency in business processes. It is typically stable and shared across applications, serving as a common vocabulary for coding and categorization rather than recording transient events.

Common examples include country codes (ISO 3166), currency codes (ISO 4217), units of measure, tax codes, industry classifications, and product or material classifications. These code sets provide standardized values that constrain input, support data quality, and enable reliable cross-system reporting and integration. Referenssidata often resides in dedicated reference tables or code lists that support validation, data governance, and user interface choices such as dropdown menus.

Governance and lifecycle are central to referenssidata. Organizations establish stewards, approval processes, and versioning to manage changes, deprecations, and retirements. Clear ownership helps prevent fragmentation when multiple systems reference the same codes. Versioned releases, mapping between old and new codes, and documentation of intended usage are common practices to maintain consistency over time.

Implementation and use cases vary, but referenssidata is typically stored as separate reference tables or catalogues and linked to transactional data through foreign keys or lookup processes. It supports data quality, interoperability, and analytics by ensuring that all systems interpret values identically. Challenges include keeping code sets aligned across heterogeneous environments and coordinating multilingual labels and synonyms.