Release 5

This page is part of the FHIR Specification (v5.0.0: R5 - STU). This is the current published version. For a full list of available versions, see the Directory of published versions . Page versions: R5 R4B R4 R3 R2

FHIR Infrastructure icon Work GroupMaturity Level: N Normative (from v4.0.0)Security Category: N/A Compartments: No defined compartments

Detailed Descriptions for the elements in the Base Resource Definitions.

Resource
Definition

This is the base resource type for everything.

Short DisplayBase Resource
Cardinality0..*
TypeBase
Summaryfalse
Resource.id
Definition

The logical id of the resource, as used in the URL for the resource. Once assigned, this value never changes.

Short DisplayLogical id of this artifact
Cardinality0..1
Typeid
Summarytrue
Comments

Within the context of the FHIR RESTful interactions, the resource has an id except for cases like the create and conditional update. Otherwise, the use of the resouce id depends on the given use case.

Resource.meta
Definition

The metadata about the resource. This is content that is maintained by the infrastructure. Changes to the content might not always be associated with version changes to the resource.

Short DisplayMetadata about the resource
Cardinality0..1
TypeMeta
Summarytrue
Resource.implicitRules
Definition

A reference to a set of rules that were followed when the resource was constructed, and which must be understood when processing the content. Often, this is a reference to an implementation guide that defines the special rules along with other profiles etc.

Short DisplayA set of rules under which this content was created
Cardinality0..1
Typeuri
Is Modifiertrue (Reason: This element is labeled as a modifier because the implicit rules may provide additional knowledge about the resource that modifies its meaning or interpretation)
Summarytrue
Comments

Asserting this rule set restricts the content to be only understood by a limited set of trading partners. This inherently limits the usefulness of the data in the long term. However, the existing health eco-system is highly fractured, and not yet ready to define, collect, and exchange data in a generally computable sense. Wherever possible, implementers and/or specification writers should avoid using this element. Often, when used, the URL is a reference to an implementation guide that defines these special rules as part of its narrative along with other profiles, value sets, etc.

Resource.language
Definition

The base language in which the resource is written.

Short DisplayLanguage of the resource content
Cardinality0..1
Terminology BindingAll Languages (Required)
Additional BindingsPurpose
Common LanguagesStarter Set
Typecode
Summaryfalse
Comments

Language is provided to support indexing and accessibility (typically, services such as text to speech use the language tag). The html language tag in the narrative applies to the narrative. The language tag on the resource may be used to specify the language of other presentations generated from the data in the resource. Not all the content has to be in the base language. The Resource.language should not be assumed to apply to the narrative automatically. If a language is specified, it should it also be specified on the div element in the html (see rules in HTML5 for information about the relationship between xml:lang and the html lang attribute).

FHIR Infrastructure icon Work GroupMaturity Level: 5Standards Status: Normative

See also Base Definition, Profiles, Extensions and R4 Conversions

Meta
Standards StatusThis element has a standards status of "Normative"
Element IdMeta
Definition

The metadata about a resource. This is content in the resource that is maintained by the infrastructure. Changes to the content might not always be associated with version changes to the resource.

Short DisplayMetadata about a resource
Cardinality0..*
TypeDataType
Summarytrue
Meta.versionId
Element IdMeta.versionId
Definition

The version specific identifier, as it appears in the version portion of the URL. This value changes when the resource is created, updated, or deleted.

Short DisplayVersion specific identifier
Cardinality0..1
Typeid
Summarytrue
Comments

The server assigns this value, and ignores what the client specifies, except in the case that the server is imposing version integrity on updates/deletes.

Meta.lastUpdated
Element IdMeta.lastUpdated
Definition

When the resource last changed - e.g. when the version changed.

Short DisplayWhen the resource version last changed
Cardinality0..1
Typeinstant
Summarytrue
Comments

This element is generally omitted in instances submitted in a PUT or POST. Instead, it is populated in the response instance and when retrieving information using a GET. The server / resource manager sets this value; what a client provides is irrelevant. This is equivalent to the HTTP Last-Modified and SHOULD have the same value on a read interaction.

Meta.source
Element IdMeta.source
Definition

A uri that identifies the source system of the resource. This provides a minimal amount of Provenance information that can be used to track or differentiate the source of information in the resource. The source may identify another FHIR server, document, message, database, etc.

Short DisplayIdentifies where the resource comes from
Cardinality0..1
Typeuri
Summarytrue
Comments

The exact use of the source (and the possible implied Provenance.entity.role and agent.role) is left to implementer discretion. Only one nominated source is allowed; for additional provenance details, a full Provenance resource should be used. The source may correspond to Provenance.entity.what[x] or Provenance.agent.who[x], though it may be a more general or abstract reference.

This element can be used to indicate where the current master source of a resource that has a canonical URL if the resource is no longer hosted at the canonical URL.

Meta.profile
Element IdMeta.profile
Definition

A list of profiles (references to StructureDefinition resources) that this resource claims to conform to. The URL is a reference to StructureDefinition.url.

Short DisplayProfiles this resource claims to conform to
Cardinality0..*
Typecanonical(StructureDefinition)
Summarytrue
Comments

It is up to the server and/or other infrastructure of policy to determine whether/how these claims are verified and/or updated over time. The list of profile URLs is a set.

Meta.security
Element IdMeta.security
Definition

Security labels applied to this resource. These tags connect specific resources to the overall security policy and infrastructure.

Short DisplaySecurity Labels applied to this resource
Cardinality0..*
Terminology BindingAll Security Labels (Extensible)
TypeCoding
Summarytrue
Comments

The security labels can be updated without changing the stated version of the resource. The list of security labels is a set. Uniqueness is based the system/code, and version and display are ignored.

Meta.tag
Element IdMeta.tag
Definition

Tags applied to this resource. Tags are intended to be used to identify and relate resources to process and workflow, and applications are not required to consider the tags when interpreting the meaning of a resource.

Short DisplayTags applied to this resource
Cardinality0..*
Terminology BindingCommon Tags (Example)
TypeCoding
Summarytrue
Comments

The tags can be updated without changing the stated version of the resource. The list of tags is a set. Uniqueness is based the system/code, and version and display are ignored.