nummerdamise

Nummerdamise is a term used in some data management, archival, and inventory contexts to describe the systematic assignment of numeric identifiers to items within a collection, database, or data stream. The purpose is to create durable, unique references that remain valid across changes in location, metadata, or ownership, enabling reliable retrieval and cross-linking.

The term does not have a universally standardized definition and appears mainly in niche technical literature. Its etymology is informal and likely derives from the word for number in several European languages combined with a productive suffix that suggests a process or method. As a result, nummerdamise is often described in practical rather than prescriptive terms, with emphasis on implemented schemes and governance.

A nummerdamise scheme typically involves establishing a numbering policy, generating unique IDs, recording mappings to internal records, and maintaining the identifiers through system migrations or data transformations. Good practice emphasizes stability and longevity of references, clear rules for versioning and deprecation, error-detection features such as check digits, and explicit ownership of the numbering system. In many implementations, IDs are hierarchical, combining collection prefixes with sequential numbers, while separate mappings relate IDs to descriptive metadata and physical or digital locations.

Applications of nummerdamise span libraries, museums, archives, and digital asset management, where durable identifiers support citation, provenance, and interoperability. It complements other identifier systems (such as DOIs or URNs) by focusing on fast, numeric referencing within specific workflows while still supporting external linkages when needed.

See also: persistent identifiers, cataloging, asset management, accession numbers.