====== Data Object ======

[[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:start|Go up to Terms and Definitions]]

===== Discussion =====

A Data Object encapsulates data as an identifiable instance of a defined type.

The identity of a Data Object distinguishes the Data Object from other instances of the same type. The defined type establishes the characteristics, structure, constraints, or permissible operations associated with the Data Object.

A Data Object can represent:

  * A real-world entity
  * A conceptual entity
  * An event
  * A transaction
  * A message
  * A document
  * A state
  * A state transition
  * A configuration
  * A test
  * A test result
  * An Evidence record
  * A relationship among other Data Objects

A Data Object remains conceptually distinct from its physical representation. Different implementations can represent the same Data Object using different serialization formats, storage mechanisms, programming-language objects, database records, messages, files, or memory structures.

A Data Object can have:

  * An identity
  * A type
  * A state
  * A lifecycle
  * A version
  * A predecessor
  * A successor
  * Relationships to other Data Objects
  * Provenance
  * Traceability
  * Applicable constraints
  * Permitted operations

The applicable architecture determines which characteristics a particular Data Object requires.

===== Definition =====

//identifiable information object that encapsulates data as an instance of a defined type//

===== Source =====

Adapted from:

  * [[https://www.omgwiki.org/dido/doku.php?id=dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:d:data_object|DIDO Reference Architecture, Data Object]]
  * [[https://www.omgwiki.org/dido/doku.php?id=dido:public:s_cli:05_contents:01_prt:00_intro:start|DIDO CLI, What is DIDO?]]
  * Object-oriented modeling and information-modeling usage
  * [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:i:immutable_data_object|Immutable Data Object]]
  * [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:d:dido|Distributed Immutable Data Object (DIDO)]]

The definition preserves the DIDO-RA treatment of a Data Object as an instance of a class used within or distributed across a system while remaining independent of a specific modeling or implementation technology.

===== Note =====

A Data Object is not necessarily immutable or distributed.

An [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:i:immutable_data_object|Immutable Data Object]] preserves each committed state without in-place alteration.

A [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:d:dido|Distributed Immutable Data Object (DIDO)]] distributes the committed states of an Immutable Data Object across multiple networked Nodes through a shared state-agreement mechanism.

A Data Object is distinct from:

  * The real-world or conceptual subject it represents
  * The type that defines its permitted characteristics
  * A particular serialization of the Data Object
  * A particular copy of the Data Object
  * The storage mechanism containing the Data Object
  * The message carrying the Data Object
  * The software component processing the Data Object

Changing a physical representation does not create a different Data Object when the identity, type, state, and applicable semantics remain unchanged.

Creating a state with a new identity, version, or lifecycle position can create a successor Data Object when the governing model defines each state as a separately identifiable object.

===== Example =====

A trade model defines a Trade type.

A particular trade identified as ''TRADE-2026-0042'' constitutes a Data Object that instantiates the Trade type. The trade can appear as a database record, a serialized message, a document, or an in-memory representation without changing its conceptual identity.

If the architecture preserves each committed trade state as a separately identifiable successor, each state can constitute an [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:i:immutable_data_object|Immutable Data Object]].

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