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A basic code-to-description codelist used to validate fields and present standardized labels.
DESCRIPTION
A simple reference list maps each permissible value to a label, ensuring consistent data entry and reporting. It is the most common type of reference data and supports validation. Lists often include metadata like effective dates and deprecation status. They can be implemented as lookup tables or published codelists. Multilingual fields may extend simple lists with language tags.
ALTERNATIVE DEFINITIONS
Wikipedia
Reference data is data that defines the permissible values to be used by other data fields.
Establishes the purpose of codelists in validation.
Wikipedia
A controlled vocabulary is an organized arrangement of words and phrases used to index content and/or to retrieve content through browsing or searching.
Highlights the organization of standardized terms underpinning simple lists.
RELATED TERMS
Reference Data Code Tables Enumeration Value Set Data Validation Business Glossary Simple Knowledge Organization System ISO Codes Metadata Management Data Quality
COMPETING TERMS
Cross-Reference Lists Hierarchical Code Lists
RELATIONS
- Broader: List
KNOWLEDGE AREAS
Reference & Master Data Data Management Metadata Management
TARGET AUDIENCE
Data Steward Data Modeler Data Engineer BI Specialist
EXTERNAL SOURCES
- Wikipedia - Reference data
- UK Government - Guidance on codelist management
- W3C - Data on the Web best practices
TOP QUESTIONS
Why use a Simple Reference List?
It enforces consistent permissible values, reduces entry errors, and standardizes labels for reporting.
Category: Relevancy
How is a Simple Reference List different from Cross-Reference Lists?
Simple lists map codes to labels in one scheme; cross-reference lists map between multiple schemes.
Category: Opinion
What is a common mistake with Simple Reference Lists?
Not tracking effective dates and deprecations, causing stale values to persist in systems.
Category: Mistakes
How should Simple Reference Lists be governed?
Assign stewards, define change processes, version lists, and communicate updates to consumers.
Category: Requirements
Can Simple Reference Lists be multilingual?
Yes, store language-tagged labels per code to support internationalization.
Category: Example
What are risks of unmanaged Simple Reference Lists?
Inconsistent values, validation failures, and reporting discrepancies are common outcomes.
Category: Risk
How to start implementing Simple Reference Lists?
Identify fields requiring validation, source authoritative codelists, and publish centrally with APIs.
Category: Requirements
Where are Simple Reference Lists most used?
Status fields, country codes, categories, and type codes across enterprise applications.
Category: Example
How do Simple Reference Lists support data quality?
They prevent invalid entries and unify semantics, enabling clean analytics and interoperability.
Category: Relevancy