IREF244155false2026-06-28T05:26:56ZSDMX Cross Domain Concept SchemeThe Cross Domain Concept Scheme (starting from v2.0) is created from the set of concepts in the SDMX Glossary, which is an SDMX guideline containing concepts and related definitions that are useful for building and understanding data and metadata exchange arrangements based on SDMX. The Glossary provides definition of terms found in the SDMX Information Model, Data Structure Definitions (DSDs) and Metadata Structure Definitions (MSDs) at the time of the present release. It is recommended as a single entry point to a common SDMX terminology to be used in order to facilitate communication and understanding of the standard.In short, the overall message of the glossary is the following: if a term is used, then its precise meaning should correspond to the SDMX Glossary definition, and any reference to a particular phenomenon described in the SDMX Glossary should use the appropriate term.Version 1.0 of the SDMX Glossary, which replaces the Metadata Common Vocabulary (MCV) published in 2009, was finalised in February 2016. The Cross Domain Concept Scheme v1.0 was created from the MCV concepts.For any question, comment or correction, feel free to contact the SDMX Statistical Working Group (SWG) at the following address: swg@sdmx.org.CONTEXTAt an abstract level, a Concept is defined in the Generic Statistical Information Model (GSIM) as a "unit of thought differentiated by characteristics". Concepts are used in different ways throughout the statistical lifecycle, and each role of a Concept is described using different information objects (which are subtypes of Concept). A Concept can be used in these situations: (a) As a characteristic. The Concept is used by a Variable to describe the particular characteristic that is to be measured about a Population. For example, to measure the Concept of gender in a population of adults in the Netherlands, the Variable combines this Concept with the Unit Type "person". (b) As a Unit Type or a Population. To describe the set of objects that information is to be obtained about in a statistical survey. For example, the Population of adults in Netherlands based on the Unit Type of persons. (c) As a Category to further define details about a Concept. For example, Male and Female for the Concept of Gender. Codes can be linked to a Category via a Node (i.e., a Code Item or Classification Item), for use within a Code List or Statistical Classification. In SDMX the concept can be given a Core Representation such as a reference to a code list for an enumerated representation or other values such as "integer" or "string" for a non-enumerated representation. This representation can be overridden in the data structure when the concept is used as a dimension or attribute. A concept with a core representation could be regarded as a represented variable.RELATED_TERMSConcept scheme; Dimension; Metadata structure definition, MSDSOURCEGeneric Statistical Information Model (GSIM) Specification (Version 1.1, December 2013. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), on behalf of the international statistical community (http://www1.unece.org/stat/platform/display/gsim/Generic+Statistical+Information+Model)ConceptUnit of thought created by a unique combination of characteristics.