Data element is a characteristic of an entity type.
Another definition is: A data element (DE) is a unit of data that is considered in context to be indivisible (ISO 11179:2015). However, this may also indicate a data item.
A data element is specified by its name, definition, classification and format.
| Data element | is parent of | critical data element |
| Data element | is parent of | primary key |
| Data element | is parent of | foreign key |
| Data element | consists of | data items |
| Data element | is specified by | data element specification |
Examples of data elements are:
DAMA NL (2020). Data concepts for Data Quality Dimensions (DSC). Research paper. https://www.dama-nl.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/DCS-Data-Concept-System-DDQ-Research-Paper-version-1.2-d.d.-3-Sept-2020.pdf