identifiermost
Identifiermost is a term used in data management to refer to the most identifying identifier available for a given entity within a specific data environment. It represents the canonical or primary identifier chosen to uniquely identify that entity across datasets, systems, or processes. The concept is contextual and dynamic: the identifiermost can change as data sources evolve or privacy constraints apply.
In practice, identifiermost supports identity resolution, deduplication, and data integration by providing a single reference key.
Implementation considerations include governance, mapping between identifiers, handling of conflicting or outdated identifiers, and privacy protections.
Relation to related concepts: identifiermost is related to but distinct from a database primary key or surrogate