FIGI — Identifier Definition

Raised by Tom Rutt:

Identifier: The definition does not indicate that the identifier maps to any specific entity. This definition seems to allow too many strings to be called identifiers. For example "An identifier is a name that identifies (that is, labels the identity of) either a unique object or a unique class of objects, where the "object" or class may be an idea, physical [countable] object (or class thereof), or physical [noncountable] substance (or class thereof)." is fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identifier adds the concept if identification for the identifier.

Identifier Definition

at the beginning of 4.3 add the following text:

In general terms, an Identifier can be understood as follows:
An identifier is a name that identifies (that is, labels the identity of) either a unique object or a unique class of objects, where the "object" or class may be an idea, physical [countable] object (or class thereof), or physical [noncountable] substance (or class thereof). The abbreviation ID often refers to identity, identification (the process of identifying), or an identifier (that is, an instance of identification). An identifier may be a word, number, letter, symbol, or any combination of those.
The words, numbers, letters, or symbols may follow an encoding system (wherein letters, digits, words, or symbols stand for(represent) ideas or longer names) or they may simply be arbitrary. When an identifier follows an encoding system, it is often referred to as a code or ID code. Identifiers that do not follow any encoding scheme are often said to be arbitrary IDs; they are arbitrarily assigned and have no greater meaning. (Sometimes identifiers are called "codes" even when they are actually arbitrary, whether because the speaker believes that they have deeper meaning or simply because he is speaking casually and imprecisely.)

The above definition is general and applies to a range of items in this specification including Financial Instrument Names and Financial Instrument Identifiers. A more precise definition is, however, called for with respect to Financial Instrument Global Identifiers

followed by adding the following phrase after "identifier":
"when applied to the FIGI" to the following sentence in the next paragraph:
"For the purposes of this specification an identifier is understood as:"