This page is part of the FHIR Specification (v1.2.0: STU 3 Draft). The current version which supercedes this version is 5.0.0. For a full list of available versions, see the Directory of published versions . Page versions: R5 R4B R4 R3 R2
StructureDefinition for Reference
<StructureDefinition xmlns="http://hl7.org/fhir"> <id value="Reference"/> <text> <status value="generated"/> <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border: 0px; font-size: 11px; font-family: verdana; vertical-align: top;"> <tr style="border: 1px #F0F0F0 solid; font-size: 11px; font-family: verdana; vertical-align: top;"> <th class="hierarchy" style="vertical-align: top; text-align : left; background-color: white; padding:0px 4px 0px 4px"> <a href="formats.html#table" title="The logical name of the element">Name</a> </th> <th class="hierarchy" style="vertical-align: top; text-align : left; background-color: white; padding:0px 4px 0px 4px"> <a href="formats.html#table" title="Information about the use of the element">Flags</a> </th> <th class="hierarchy" style="vertical-align: top; text-align : left; background-color: white; padding:0px 4px 0px 4px"> <a href="formats.html#table" title="Minimum and Maximum # of times the the element can appear in the instance">Card.</a> </th> <th class="hierarchy" style="width: 100px"> <a href="formats.html#table" title="Reference to the type of the element">Type</a> </th> <th class="hierarchy" style="vertical-align: top; text-align : left; background-color: white; padding:0px 4px 0px 4px"> <a href="formats.html#table" title="Additional information about the element">Description & Constraints</a> <span style="float: right"> <a href="formats.html#table" title="Legend for this format"> <img alt="doco" src="help16.png" style="background-color: inherit"/> </a> </span> </th> </tr> <tr style="border: 0px; padding:0px; vertical-align: top; background-color: white;"> <td class="hierarchy" style="vertical-align: top; text-align : left; background-color: white; padding:0px 4px 0px 4px; white-space: nowrap; background-image: url(data: image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAyAAAAACCA YAAACg/LjIAAAAL0lEQVR42u3XsQ0AQAgCQHdl/xn8jxvYWB3JlTR0VJLa+OltBwAAYP6EEQAAgCsPVYVAgIJrA/sAAAAASUVORK5 CYII=)"> <img alt="." class="hierarchy" src="data: image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAAWCAYAAAABxvaqAAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAAAB 3RJTUUH3wYeFzIs1vtcMQAAAB1pVFh0Q29tbWVudAAAAAAAQ3JlYXRlZCB3aXRoIEdJTVBkLmUHAAAAE0lEQVQI12P4//8/AxMDAw NdCABMPwMo2ctnoQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==" style="background-color: inherit"/> <img alt="." class="hierarchy" src="data: image/png;base64,R0lGODlhEAAQAMQfAOvGUf7ztuvPMf/78/fkl/Pbg+u8Rvjqteu2Pf3zxPz36Pz0z+vTmPzurPvuw /npofbjquvNefHVduuyN+uuMu3Oafbgjfnqvf/3zv/3xevPi+vRjP/20/bmsP///////yH5BAEAAB8ALAAAAAAQABAAAAV24CeOZG mepqeqqOgxjBZFa+19r4ftWQUAgqDgltthMshMIJAZ4jYDHsBARSAmFOJvq+g6HIdEFgcYmBWNxoNAsDjGHgBnmV5bCoUDHLBIq9s FEhIdcAYJdYASFRUQhQkLCwkOFwcdEBAXhVabE52ecDahKy0oIQA7" style="background-color: white; background-color: inherit" title="Element"/> <a href="references-definitions.html#Reference" title="Reference : A reference from one resource to another.">Reference</a> <a name="Reference"> </a> </td> <td class="hierarchy" style="vertical-align: top; text-align : left; background-color: white; padding:0px 4px 0px 4px"> <span title="This element is included in summaries">Σ </span> <span title="This element has or is affected by some invariants">I</span> </td> <td class="hierarchy" style="vertical-align: top; text-align : left; background-color: white; padding:0px 4px 0px 4px"/> <td class="hierarchy" style="vertical-align: top; text-align : left; background-color: white; padding:0px 4px 0px 4px"> <a href="element.html">Element</a> </td> <td class="hierarchy" style="vertical-align: top; text-align : left; background-color: white; padding:0px 4px 0px 4px">A reference from one resource to another <br/> <span style="font-style: italic" title="ref-1">SHALL have a local reference if the resource is provided inline</span> </td> </tr> <tr style="border: 0px; padding:0px; vertical-align: top; background-color: white;"> <td class="hierarchy" style="vertical-align: top; text-align : left; background-color: white; padding:0px 4px 0px 4px; white-space: nowrap; background-image: url(data: image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAyAAAAACCA YAAACg/LjIAAAAL0lEQVR42u3XsQ0AQAgCQHdl/xn8jxvYWB3JlTR0VJLa+OltBwAAYP6EEQAAgCsPVYVAgIJrA/sAAAAASUVORK5 CYII=)"> <img alt="." class="hierarchy" src="data: image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAAWCAYAAAABxvaqAAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAAAB 3RJTUUH3wYeFzIs1vtcMQAAAB1pVFh0Q29tbWVudAAAAAAAQ3JlYXRlZCB3aXRoIEdJTVBkLmUHAAAAE0lEQVQI12P4//8/AxMDAw NdCABMPwMo2ctnoQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==" style="background-color: inherit"/> <img alt="." class="hierarchy" src="data: image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABAAAAAWCAYAAADJqhx8AAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAAAB 3RJTUUH3wYeFzI3XJ6V3QAAAB1pVFh0Q29tbWVudAAAAAAAQ3JlYXRlZCB3aXRoIEdJTVBkLmUHAAAANklEQVQ4y+2RsQ0AIAzDav 7/2VzQwoCY4iWbZSmo1QGoUgNMghvWaIejPQW/CrrNCylIwcOCDYfLNRcNer4SAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC" style="background-color: inherit"/> <img alt="." class="hierarchy" src="data: image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABAAAAAQCAYAAAAf8/9hAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAACXBIW XMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAAAB3RJTUUH3gYBFzI0BrFQCwAAAERJREFUOMtj/P//PwMlgImBQjDwBrCcOnWKokBgYWBgYDCU+06W5i 8MUggvnH/EOVJjAW4AuQHJ+O75LYqikXE0LzAAALePEntTkEoSAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC" style="background-color: white; background-color: inherit" title="Primitive Data Type"/> <a href="references-definitions.html#Reference.reference" title="Reference.reference : A reference to a location at which the other resource is found. The reference may be a relative reference, in which case it is relative to the service base URL, or an absolute URL that resolves to the location where the resource is found. The reference may be version specific or not. If the reference is not to a FHIR RESTful server, then it should be assumed to be version specific. Internal fragment references (start with '#') refer to contained resources.">reference</a> <a name="Reference.reference"> </a> </td> <td class="hierarchy" style="vertical-align: top; text-align : left; background-color: white; padding:0px 4px 0px 4px"> <span title="This element is included in summaries">Σ </span> <span title="This element has or is affected by some invariants">I</span> </td> <td class="hierarchy" style="vertical-align: top; text-align : left; background-color: white; padding:0px 4px 0px 4px">0..1</td> <td class="hierarchy" style="vertical-align: top; text-align : left; background-color: white; padding:0px 4px 0px 4px"> <a href="datatypes.html#string">string</a> </td> <td class="hierarchy" style="vertical-align: top; text-align : left; background-color: white; padding:0px 4px 0px 4px">Relative, internal or absolute URL reference</td> </tr> <tr style="border: 0px; padding:0px; vertical-align: top; background-color: white;"> <td class="hierarchy" style="vertical-align: top; text-align : left; background-color: white; padding:0px 4px 0px 4px; white-space: nowrap; background-image: url(data: image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAyAAAAACCA YAAACg/LjIAAAAI0lEQVR42u3QIQEAAAACIL/6/4MvTAQOkLYBAAB4kAAAANwMad9AqkRjgNAAAAAASUVORK5CYII=)"> <img alt="." class="hierarchy" src="data: image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAAWCAYAAAABxvaqAAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAAAB 3RJTUUH3wYeFzIs1vtcMQAAAB1pVFh0Q29tbWVudAAAAAAAQ3JlYXRlZCB3aXRoIEdJTVBkLmUHAAAAE0lEQVQI12P4//8/AxMDAw NdCABMPwMo2ctnoQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==" style="background-color: inherit"/> <img alt="." class="hierarchy" src="data: image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABAAAAAWCAYAAADJqhx8AAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAAAB 3RJTUUH3wYeFzME+lXFigAAAB1pVFh0Q29tbWVudAAAAAAAQ3JlYXRlZCB3aXRoIEdJTVBkLmUHAAAANklEQVQ4y+3OsRUAIAjEUO L+O8cJABttJM11/x1qZAGqRBEVcNIqdWj1efDqQbb3HwwwwEfABmQUHSPM9dtDAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC" style="background-color: inherit"/> <img alt="." class="hierarchy" src="data: image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABAAAAAQCAYAAAAf8/9hAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAACXBIW XMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAAAB3RJTUUH3gYBFzI0BrFQCwAAAERJREFUOMtj/P//PwMlgImBQjDwBrCcOnWKokBgYWBgYDCU+06W5i 8MUggvnH/EOVJjAW4AuQHJ+O75LYqikXE0LzAAALePEntTkEoSAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC" style="background-color: white; background-color: inherit" title="Primitive Data Type"/> <a href="references-definitions.html#Reference.display" title="Reference.display : Plain text narrative that identifies the resource in addition to the resource reference.">display</a> <a name="Reference.display"> </a> </td> <td class="hierarchy" style="vertical-align: top; text-align : left; background-color: white; padding:0px 4px 0px 4px"> <span title="This element is included in summaries">Σ</span> </td> <td class="hierarchy" style="vertical-align: top; text-align : left; background-color: white; padding:0px 4px 0px 4px">0..1</td> <td class="hierarchy" style="vertical-align: top; text-align : left; background-color: white; padding:0px 4px 0px 4px"> <a href="datatypes.html#string">string</a> </td> <td class="hierarchy" style="vertical-align: top; text-align : left; background-color: white; padding:0px 4px 0px 4px">Text alternative for the resource</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="hierarchy" colspan="5"> <br/> <a href="formats.html#table" title="Legend for this format"> <img alt="doco" src="help16.png" style="background-color: inherit"/> Documentation for this format </a> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </text> <url value="http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/Reference"/> <name value="Reference"/> <status value="draft"/> <publisher value="HL7 FHIR Standard"/> <contact> <telecom> <system value="other"/> <value value="http://hl7.org/fhir"/> </telecom> </contact> <date value="2015-12-11T17:38:40+11:00"/> <description value="Base StructureDefinition for Reference Type"/> <fhirVersion value="1.2.0"/> <mapping> <identity value="rim"/> <uri value="http://hl7.org/v3"/> <name value="RIM"/> </mapping> <kind value="datatype"/> <abstract value="false"/> <base value="http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/Element"/> <snapshot> <element> <path value="Reference"/> <short value="A reference from one resource to another"/> <definition value="A reference from one resource to another."/> <min value="0"/> <max value="*"/> <type> <code value="Element"/> </type> <constraint> <extension url="http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/structuredefinition-expression"> <valueString value="reference.startsWith("#").not() or ($context.reference.substring(1).log("url") in $resource.contained.id.log("ids"))"/> </extension> <key value="ref-1"/> <severity value="error"/> <human value="SHALL have a local reference if the resource is provided inline"/> <xpath value="not(starts-with(f:reference/@value, '#')) or exists(ancestor::*[self::f:entry or self::f:parameter]/ f:resource/f:*/f:contained/f:*[f:id/@value=substring-after(current()/f:reference/@value, '#')]|/*/f:contained/f:*[f:id/@value=substring-after(current()/f:reference/@value, '#')])"/> </constraint> <isSummary value="true"/> <mapping> <identity value="rim"/> <map value="The target of a resource reference is a RIM entry point (Act, Role, or Entity)"/> </mapping> </element> <element> <path value="Reference.id"/> <representation value="xmlAttr"/> <short value="xml:id (or equivalent in JSON)"/> <definition value="unique id for the element within a resource (for internal references)."/> <min value="0"/> <max value="1"/> <type> <code value="id"/> </type> <mapping> <identity value="rim"/> <map value="n/a"/> </mapping> </element> <element> <path value="Reference.extension"/> <short value="Additional Content defined by implementations"/> <definition value="May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. In order to make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer is allowed to define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension."/> <comments value="There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone."/> <alias value="extensions"/> <alias value="user content"/> <min value="0"/> <max value="*"/> <type> <code value="Extension"/> </type> <mapping> <identity value="rim"/> <map value="n/a"/> </mapping> </element> <element> <path value="Reference.reference"/> <short value="Relative, internal or absolute URL reference"/> <definition value="A reference to a location at which the other resource is found. The reference may be a relative reference, in which case it is relative to the service base URL, or an absolute URL that resolves to the location where the resource is found. The reference may be version specific or not. If the reference is not to a FHIR RESTful server, then it should be assumed to be version specific. Internal fragment references (start with '#') refer to contained resources."/> <comments value="Using absolute URLs provides a stable scalable approach suitable for a cloud/web context, while using relative/logical references provides a flexible approach suitable for use when trading across closed eco-system boundaries. Absolute URLs do not need to point to a FHIR RESTful server, though this is the preferred approach. If the URL conforms to the structure "/[type]/[id]" then it should be assumed that the reference is to a FHIR RESTful server."/> <min value="0"/> <max value="1"/> <type> <code value="string"/> </type> <condition value="ref-1"/> <isSummary value="true"/> <mapping> <identity value="rim"/> <map value="N/A"/> </mapping> </element> <element> <path value="Reference.display"/> <short value="Text alternative for the resource"/> <definition value="Plain text narrative that identifies the resource in addition to the resource reference."/> <comments value="This is generally not the same as the Resource.text of the referenced resource. The purpose is to identify what's being referenced, not to fully describe it."/> <min value="0"/> <max value="1"/> <type> <code value="string"/> </type> <isSummary value="true"/> <mapping> <identity value="rim"/> <map value="N/A"/> </mapping> </element> </snapshot> <differential> <element> <path value="Reference"/> <short value="A reference from one resource to another"/> <definition value="A reference from one resource to another."/> <min value="0"/> <max value="*"/> <type> <code value="Element"/> </type> <constraint> <extension url="http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/structuredefinition-expression"> <valueString value="reference.startsWith("#").not() or ($context.reference.substring(1).log("url") in $resource.contained.id.log("ids"))"/> </extension> <key value="ref-1"/> <severity value="error"/> <human value="SHALL have a local reference if the resource is provided inline"/> <xpath value="not(starts-with(f:reference/@value, '#')) or exists(ancestor::*[self::f:entry or self::f:parameter]/ f:resource/f:*/f:contained/f:*[f:id/@value=substring-after(current()/f:reference/@value, '#')]|/*/f:contained/f:*[f:id/@value=substring-after(current()/f:reference/@value, '#')])"/> </constraint> <isSummary value="true"/> <mapping> <identity value="rim"/> <map value="The target of a resource reference is a RIM entry point (Act, Role, or Entity)"/> </mapping> </element> <element> <path value="Reference.reference"/> <short value="Relative, internal or absolute URL reference"/> <definition value="A reference to a location at which the other resource is found. The reference may be a relative reference, in which case it is relative to the service base URL, or an absolute URL that resolves to the location where the resource is found. The reference may be version specific or not. If the reference is not to a FHIR RESTful server, then it should be assumed to be version specific. Internal fragment references (start with '#') refer to contained resources."/> <comments value="Using absolute URLs provides a stable scalable approach suitable for a cloud/web context, while using relative/logical references provides a flexible approach suitable for use when trading across closed eco-system boundaries. Absolute URLs do not need to point to a FHIR RESTful server, though this is the preferred approach. If the URL conforms to the structure "/[type]/[id]" then it should be assumed that the reference is to a FHIR RESTful server."/> <min value="0"/> <max value="1"/> <type> <code value="string"/> </type> <condition value="ref-1"/> <isSummary value="true"/> <mapping> <identity value="rim"/> <map value="N/A"/> </mapping> </element> <element> <path value="Reference.display"/> <short value="Text alternative for the resource"/> <definition value="Plain text narrative that identifies the resource in addition to the resource reference."/> <comments value="This is generally not the same as the Resource.text of the referenced resource. The purpose is to identify what's being referenced, not to fully describe it."/> <min value="0"/> <max value="1"/> <type> <code value="string"/> </type> <isSummary value="true"/> <mapping> <identity value="rim"/> <map value="N/A"/> </mapping> </element> </differential> </StructureDefinition>
Usage note: every effort has been made to ensure that the examples are correct and useful, but they are not a normative part of the specification.