A formal computable definition of an operation (on the RESTful interface) or a named query (using the search interaction).

An absolute URL that is used to identify this operation definition when it is referenced in a specification, model, design or an instance. This SHALL be a URL, SHOULD be globally unique, and SHOULD be an address at which this operation definition is (or will be) published. The URL SHOULD include the major version of the operation definition. For more information see Technical and Business Versions.

Allows the operation definition to be referenced by a single globally unique identifier.

Can be a urn:uuid: or a urn:oid:, but real http: addresses are preferred.

The identifier that is used to identify this version of the operation definition when it is referenced in a specification, model, design or instance. This is an arbitrary value managed by the operation definition author and is not expected to be globally unique. For example, it might be a timestamp (e.g. yyyymmdd) if a managed version is not available. There is also no expectation that versions are orderable.

There may be multiple different instances of a operation definition that have the same identifier but different versions.

A natural language name identifying the operation definition. This name should be usable as an identifier for the module by machine processing applications such as code generation.

Support human navigation & code generation.

The name is not expected to be globally unique. The name should be a simple alpha-numeric type name to ensure it is computable friendly.

The status of this operation definition. Enables tracking the life-cycle of the content.

Allows filtering of operation definition that are appropriate for use vs. not.

Whether this is an operation or a named query.

Named queries are invoked differently, and have different capabilities.

A flag to indicate that this operation definition is authored for testing purposes (or education/evaluation/marketing), and is not intended to be used for genuine usage.

Enables experimental content to be developed following the same life-cycle as a production-level operation definition would.

Allows filtering of operation definition that are appropriate for use vs. not.

The date (and optionally time) when the operation definition was published. The date must change when the business version changes, if it does, and it must change if the status code changes. In addition, it should change when the substantive content of the operation definition changes.

Note that this is not the same as the resource last-modified-date, since the resource may be a secondary representation of the operation definition. Additional specific dates may be added as extensions.

The name of the individual or organization that published the operation definition.

Helps establish the "authority/credibility" of the operation definition. May also allow for contact.

Usually an organization, but may be an individual. The publisher (or steward) of the operation definition is the organization or individual primarily responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the operation definition. This is not necessarily the same individual or organization that developed and initially authored the content. The publisher is the primary point of contact for questions or issues with the operation definition. This item SHOULD be populated unless the information is available from context.

Contact details to assist a user in finding and communicating with the publisher.

May be a web site, an email address, a telephone number, etc.

A free text natural language description of the operation definition from the consumer's perspective.

This description can be used to capture details such as why the operation definition was built, comments about misuse, instructions for clinical use and interpretation, literature references, examples from the paper world, etc. It is not a rendering of the module as conveyed in the text field of the resource itself. This item SHOULD be populated unless the information is available from context.

The content was developed with a focus and intent of supporting the contexts that are listed. These terms may be used to assist with indexing and searching of code system definitions.

Assist in searching for appropriate content.

When multiple usageContexts are specified, there is no expectation for whether all or any of the contexts apply.

A jurisdiction in which the operation definition is intended to be used.

Explains why this operation definition is needed and why it has been designed as it has.

This element does not describe the usage of the operation definition (See, e.g, the comments element, or relatedArtifacts), rather it's for traceability of ''why'' the resource is either needed or ''why'' it is defined as it is. This may be used to point to source materials or specifications that drove the structure of this operation definition.

Operations that are idempotent (see HTTP specification definition of idempotent ) may be invoked by performing an HTTP GET operation instead of a POST.

The name used to invoke the operation.

The code does not include the '$' prefix that is always included in the URL when the operation is invoked.

Additional information about how to use this operation or named query.

Indicates that this operation definition is a constraining profile on the base.

A constrained profile can make optional parameters required or not used and clarify documentation.

The types on which this operation can be executed.

If the type is an abstract resource ("Resource" or "DomainResource") then the operation can be invoked on any concrete specialization.

Indicates whether this operation or named query can be invoked at the system level (e.g. without needing to choose a resource type for the context).

Indicates whether this operation or named query can be invoked at the resource type level for any given resource type level (e.g. without needing to choose a specific resource id for the context).

Indicates whether this operation can be invoked on a particular instance of one of the given types.

The parameters for the operation/query.

Query Definitions only have one output parameter, named "result". This may not be described, but can be to allow a profile to be defined.

The name of used to identify the parameter.

This name must be a token (start with a letter in a..z, and only contain letters, numerals, and underscore. Note that for search parameters (type = string, with a search type), the name may be altered by the search modifiers.

Whether this is an input or an output parameter.

If a parameter name is used for both an input and an output parameter, the parameter should be defined twice.

The minimum number of times this parameter SHALL appear in the request or response.

The maximum number of times this element is permitted to appear in the request or response.

Describes the meaning or use of this parameter.

The type for this parameter.

if there is no stated parameter, then the parameter is a multi-part parameter; type and must have at least one part defined.

How the parameter is understood as a search parameter. This is only used if the parameter type is 'string'.

A profile the specifies the rules that this parameter must conform to.

Binds to a value set if this parameter is coded (code, Coding, CodeableConcept).

Indicates the degree of conformance expectations associated with this binding - that is, the degree to which the provided value set must be adhered to in the instances.

For further discussion, see Using Terminologies.

Points to the value set or external definition (e.g. implicit value set) that identifies the set of codes to be used.

For value sets with a referenceResource, the display can contain the value set description. The reference may be version-specific or not.

The parts of a nested Parameter.

Query Definitions only have one output parameter, named "result". This may not be described, but can be to allow a profile to be defined.

Defines an appropriate combination of parameters to use when invoking this operation.

This element is intended for generating overloaded methods in code, and the combinations are not authoritative.

Name of parameter to include in overload.

Comments to go on overload.