Overview
ISO/IEC TR 19583-23:2020 (Data Element Exchange - DEX) specifies a message exchange framework for communicating a commonly used subset of data element metadata with an ISO/IEC 11179-3 metadata registry (MDR). The technical report defines message semantics, protocols and bindings for two core transactions: retrieving a data element list that matches selection criteria, and retrieving metadata for a selected data element. DEX targets practical interoperability between metadata sources (MDRs) and metadata consumers (applications, registries or data stewards).
Key technical topics and requirements
- Message exchange patterns
- Retrieve data element list: query an MDR using selection criteria to obtain identifiers and summary info.
- Retrieve metadata: request and receive the full DEX-specified metadata for a selected data element.
- Flattened metadata subset
- DEX specifies a reduced, interoperable set of attributes mapped to ISO/IEC 11179-3 (identifier, registration_authority_identifier, version, designation, definition, effective dates, change notes, Data Element Concept, Value Domain, etc.).
- Annex C maps DEX attributes to ISO/IEC 11179-3 model elements.
- Mapping and target data models
- Introduces Mapping_Specification to express how an abstract data element maps to target data models (XML, JSON, RDF, relational schemas).
- Mapping scripts (e.g., XPath expressions) and script types are supported to locate data elements in target models.
- Protocols and bindings
- Defines message semantics, protocol requirements and bindings to enable technical and semantic interoperability between MDRs and consumers. (The report supports common serialization and access patterns compatible with XML/JSON/RDF target models.)
- Optional preparatory transaction
- Using the list retrieval before metadata retrieval improves efficiency and allows selective metadata harvesting.
Practical applications and who should use it
- Metadata architects and data stewards - for publishing and consuming standardized data element definitions across organizations.
- MDR implementers and integrators - to implement interoperable endpoints for registry queries and metadata export.
- Software vendors and system integrators - to enable metadata-driven applications, automated mapping, and schema generation.
- Domain standards organizations (examples in the report: CDISC, HITSP, NCI) - to share administered data elements consistently across projects (clinical data, public sector, research).
- Data governance and interoperability programs - to support discovery, reuse and consistent interpretation of data elements across systems.
Related standards
- ISO/IEC 11179-3 - Registry metamodel and basic attributes (primary normative reference).
- Other parts of the ISO/IEC 19583 series cover complementary metadata concepts and usage.
ISO/IEC TR 19583-23:2020 is a practical specification for organizations seeking standardized, automated exchange of data element metadata to improve discovery, reuse and semantic interoperability across heterogeneous systems. Keywords: metadata exchange, data element metadata, metadata registry (MDR), DEX, ISO/IEC 11179, mapping specification, XML, JSON, RDF.