The UDEF

Known familiarly as 'the Dewey Decimal Classification System for Data', the Universal Data Element Framework (UDEF) provides a conceptual naming convention framework with associated structured unique identifiers for indexing and aligning semantically equivalent concepts. It is a key tool for semantic interoperability and information management.

The UDEF Project

The UDEF Project is a project of the Semantic Interoperability Working Group of The Open Group. Its aim is to ensure that the appropriate technical, legal, and commercial frameworks are in place for the UDEF to become established as the universally-used classification system for data element concepts.

The UDEF Interested Parties Group

The UDEF Interested Parties Group is for people interested in the UDEF. It is managed by The Open Group to enable those people to obtain and exchange information about the UDEF. Members can download the UDEF and submit proposals for extension to the UDEF. Membership is free. Join here!

International UDEF

The UDEF is now available in French!

Following excellent work by the French UDEF team, there is now a French component of the UDEF that is equivalent to the current English and Dutch components.

This Page

This page provides information about the UDEF, the UDEF Project, and the UDEF Interested Parties Group. The amount of information available to you depends on the level at which you are logged in (Public, Interest Group, or Project).

Become Involved!

Joining the Interested Parties group is easy. You just subscribe via the web.

To join the UDEF Project, your organization must become a member of The Open Group. Information about membership is available on our website.