catalogreference

A catalogreference is a metadata field used to record a pointer to a corresponding record in another catalog or external system.

Its primary role is to enable cross-catalog discovery, reconciliation of records, and data integration across bibliographic, product, or inventory catalogs. A catalogreference may be stored as a simple string or as a structured composite that includes components such as catalogName, recordIdentifier, version or date, and a stable URL or URI to the external record.

Common practices include possible formats such as a persistent identifier (PID), a URI, or a human-readable label combining catalog name and identifier. In many schemas the field is optional, repeatable, and designed to survive catalog changes. To maintain reliability, systems should prefer stable identifiers and, when possible, use resolvable URLs.

Examples: catalogreference: WorldCat 123456789; catalogreference: http://worldcat.org/oclc/123456789; catalogreference: Library of Congress n123456; or a structured form: {catalogName: WorldCat, recordId: 123456789, url: http://worldcat.org/oclc/123456789}.

See also: cross-reference, link resolver, persistent identifier, bibliographic metadata.