Overview - ISO/IEC 23415:2024 (DFDL v1.0 Specification)
ISO/IEC 23415:2024 defines the Data Format Description Language (DFDL) v1.0, a formal specification for describing the physical representation of binary and text data so that it can be parsed into, and unparsed from, a structured information set (infoset). The standard provides a schema-based model and annotation language that extends a subset of XML Schema (XSD) to express framing, encoding, alignment, delimiters, lengths, number and string formats, escape schemes, and other representation properties for arbitrary data formats.
Key technical topics and requirements
- DFDL Infoset and augmented infoset: formalizes how parsed data maps to information items and how "no value" / empty representations are handled.
- Schema component model: DFDL builds on a subset of XML Schema types and facets (min/maxOccurs, pattern, enumeration, default, fixed) and defines DFDL-specific simple types and properties.
- Annotation elements and properties: dfdl:defineFormat, dfdl:escapeScheme, dfdl:assert, dfdl:discriminator, variable annotations and statement evaluation rules for parsing/unparsing.
- Processing model and parser/unparser algorithms: rules for resolving points of uncertainty, handling missing/empty representations, evaluation order of statements, validation and error/recoverable error treatment.
- Framing and alignment: lengthKind options (explicit, delimited, implicit, prefixed, pattern, endOfParent), delimiter handling, alignment rules for textual and binary data, and alignment fill semantics.
- Character encoding and error policy: encoding handling, BOM, bit order, and policies for decoding/encoding errors.
- Numeric and textual representations: detailed properties for converting logical numbers and booleans to/from text or binary representations, including float/double handling, patterns, and escape schemes.
- Property scoping and schema checking: rules to combine property sources, defaulting, inheritance, and optional checks like unique particle attribution.
Practical applications and users
DFDL is designed for organizations that need reliable, repeatable parsing and generation of non-XML binary and text formats:
- Data integration teams converting legacy mainframe files, EDI, telemetry, or proprietary binary formats to canonical data models
- Systems integrators and middleware vendors implementing format-aware adapters or ETL pipelines
- Software engineers building DFDL processors, validators, or tooling for format-driven parsing/unparsing
- Regulators, finance, telecom, IoT and defense projects that require formal, auditable format specifications
Related standards
- XML Schema (XSD): DFDL annotates a subset of XSD and reuses XSD concepts (types, facets, element/attribute modeling).
- ISO/IEC standards for information technology and data interchange - DFDL complements schema and interchange standards by addressing physical format description.
Keywords: ISO/IEC 23415, DFDL v1.0, Data Format Description Language, data format specification, parsing, unparse, infoset, binary formats, text formats, legacy data integration.