ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR)

International (ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 32)

vSeries as current on 2026-09-30: 11179-1:2023, 11179-3:2023, 11179-4:2004, 11179-5:2015, 11179-6:2023 (TR 11179-2 and Parts 30 to 35 not built)

5 domains

51 controls

The metadata registry series: registering data descriptions with unique identifiers, provenance and status, naming and defining them within contexts, classifying and mapping them, and running registration through one authority per item with defined statuses and procedures; plus the rules for writing data definitions and naming conventions. Built from previews of the current parts and a held restatement of Parts 1 to 6; no part is held complete.

Verified

ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) is a compliance framework from International (ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 32) with 5 domains and 51 controls that map to 1 other frameworks. The largest domains are Part 6: Registration (ISO/IEC 11179-6:2023) – ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) (16 controls), Part 3: Metamodel for registry common facilities (ISO/IEC 11179-3:2023) – ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) (12 controls), Part 4: Formulation of data definitions (ISO/IEC 11179-4:2004) – ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) (12 controls). Every control below carries what it requires and what an assessor expects to see.

Maintained by Gerard Blokdyk

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Framework Domains (5)

Part 1: Framework (ISO/IEC 11179-1:2023) – ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR)

5 controls

Controls in the Part 1: Framework (ISO/IEC 11179-1:2023) – ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) domain of ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) — 5 controls
Code	Title	Description
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P1-9	9 Conformance	The conformance clause of Part 1. Its text is not held; Part 1 is the framework that ties the parts together, and the he...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P1-ATTR	Basic attributes: mandatory, conditional and optional	The basic attributes are those commonly needed to specify an administered item well enough for uses such as system desig...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P1-DEM	5.3 Fundamental model of data elements	A data element is described by a semantic part and a representational part. The data element concept (an object class pl...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P1-REG	Registration purposes: identification, provenance and quality monitoring	A registry run under the series registers items so that three things hold: each registered object carries an identifier...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P1-REUSE	Reuse before creation; duplicates and homonyms surfaced	The registry is organized so that someone designing an application can find out whether a fitting description already ex...

Part 3: Metamodel for registry common facilities (ISO/IEC 11179-3:2023) – ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR)

12 controls

Controls in the Part 3: Metamodel for registry common facilities (ISO/IEC 11179-3:2023) – ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) domain of ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) — 12 controls
Code	Title	Description
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P3-10	10 Classification package	A registry item may be assigned to entries of a registered classification scheme made of classification scheme items; th...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P3-11	11 Item_Mapping package	A generic facility to relate registry items: an item mapping records subject and object items and a mapping degree (for...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P3-4.2	4.2 Degree of conformance	Part 3 distinguishes strictly conforming implementations from conforming implementations (4.2.2, 4.2.3); the registry st...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P3-4.3	4.3 Conformance by feature	Conformance can be claimed feature by feature, so a registry states which packages or features of the metamodel it imple...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P3-4.4	4.4 Registry conformance: profiles and labels	Registry conformance is expressed through standard profiles for registries and conformance labels (4.4.2, 4.4.3).
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P3-4.5	4.5 Obligation	Each attribute of the metamodel carries an obligation; Part 1 states that the basic attributes are mandatory, conditiona...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P3-4.6	4.6 Implementation conformance statement (ICS)	A registry claiming conformance documents it in an implementation conformance statement.
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P3-4.7	4.7 Roles and responsibilities for registration	Registration involves defined acting bodies: the registration authority, stewardship organizations and submitting organi...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P3-6	6 Basic_and_Core package	The foundation package: predefined types (Boolean, dates, integers, notations, phone numbers, postal addresses, signs, s...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P3-7	7 Identification package	Every item a user must be able to fetch on its own is an identified item with at least one identifier, unique within a s...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P3-8	8 Designation_and_Definition package	Items can be named and defined; each designation and definition is given within a context (a business area, subject, sys...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P3-9	9 Registration package	A registered item is recorded either as an administered item with its own registration state or as an attached item that...

Part 4: Formulation of data definitions (ISO/IEC 11179-4:2004) – ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR)

12 controls

Controls in the Part 4: Formulation of data definitions (ISO/IEC 11179-4:2004) – ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) domain of ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) — 12 controls
Code	Title	Description
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P4-G1	Recommendation: states the essential meaning	A data definition should give the concept's essential meaning.
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P4-G2	Recommendation: precise and unambiguous	A data definition should be precise and should admit only one reading.
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P4-G3	Recommendation: concise	A data definition should be concise.
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P4-G4	Recommendation: self-contained	A data definition should stand on its own, understandable without further explanation.
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P4-G5	Recommendation: no rationale, usage or procedure	A data definition should leave out why the data exist, how they are used and how they are processed.
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P4-G6	Recommendation: no circular reasoning	A data definition should not define a concept in terms of itself or of a concept defined in terms of it.
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P4-G7	Recommendation: consistent terminology and structure	Related definitions should use the same terms and a consistent logical structure.
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P4-R1	Requirement: stated in the singular	A data definition is written in the singular.
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P4-R2	Requirement: states what the concept is	A data definition says what the concept is, not merely what it is not.
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P4-R3	Requirement: a descriptive phrase or sentences	A data definition takes the form of a descriptive phrase or sentence or sentences.
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P4-R4	Requirement: only commonly understood abbreviations	A data definition uses only abbreviations its readers commonly understand.
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P4-R5	Requirement: no embedded definitions of other data	A data definition does not carry within it the definition of other data or underlying concepts.

Part 5: Naming principles (ISO/IEC 11179-5:2015) – ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR)

6 controls

Controls in the Part 5: Naming principles (ISO/IEC 11179-5:2015) – ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) domain of ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) — 6 controls
Code	Title	Description
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P5-CTX	Names given within contexts	An administered item carries one or more names in the registry, each tied to a context; one item can carry different nam...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P5-LEX	Naming convention: lexical rules	Lexical rules cover the permitted terms, how long a name may be, which characters it may use and its language.
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P5-NC	Naming convention: scope and authority	Where names follow a naming convention, the convention states the scope it applies to and the authority that sets the na...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P5-SEM	Naming convention: semantic rules	Semantic rules govern where the terms in a name come from and what they convey (for example terms drawn from the object...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P5-SYN	Naming convention: syntactic rules	Syntactic rules fix the order in which name terms must appear.
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P5-UNQ	Naming convention: uniqueness rules	Uniqueness rules decide whether names must be unique, and within what scope.

Part 6: Registration (ISO/IEC 11179-6:2023) – ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR)

16 controls

Controls in the Part 6: Registration (ISO/IEC 11179-6:2023) – ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) domain of ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) — 16 controls
Code	Title	Description
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P6-4.2.1	4.2.1 Identification	Any item meant to be retrieved directly (not only through a related item) must be an identified item with at least one i...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P6-4.2.4	4.2.4 Registration	An identified item may be promoted to a registered item so that the registry manages it; every registered item is then i...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P6-4.3.1	4.3.1 Status categories: one registration authority per item	Registration status (level of registration or metadata quality) and administrative status (where the item stands in the...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P6-4.3.2	4.3.2 Registration status categories and criteria	Registration status is the registration authority's view of an item's state, applied item by item. Lifecycle statuses ma...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P6-4.3.3	4.3.3 Description of registration status categories	The detailed description of each status. The held text shows that progression toward Preferred Standard is the general a...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P6-4.3.4	4.3.4 Description of administrative status	Administrative status records which process an administered item is undergoing inside its registration status; its value...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P6-4.4	4.4 Procedures	Each registration authority sets its own procedures for its registry's activities, such as taking in submissions, progre...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P6-5.2.1	5.2.1 Metadata registry views	The registry of administered items is described through defined views of its contents.
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P6-5.2.2	5.2.2 Registry contents and levels of conformance	The registry's contents relate to levels of conformance, which the registration status criteria of Table 1 underpin.
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P6-5.2.3	5.2.3 Registry contents and types of administered items	The registry states which types of administered items it holds, drawn from the types Parts 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 and ISO...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P6-5.3	5.3 Language(s)	The registry states the language or languages in which its contents are held.
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P6-5.4	5.4 Availability of the registry	The availability of the registry of administered items to its community is set out.
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P6-6	6 Conformance	The conformance clause of Part 6; its text is not held.
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P6-A	Annex A Identifiers based on ISO/IEC 6523 (IRDI)	Where the ISO/IEC 6523 scheme is used, an item's internationally unique identifier (IRDI) combines the registration auth...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P6-B	Annex B Roles and responsibilities (suggested)	Suggested organizational roles around the registry: the registration authority, stewardship organizations and submitting...
iso-iec-11179-metadata-registries-mdr::P6-E	Annex E Harmonization and reuse (suggested)	Suggested procedures for harmonizing items and reusing existing ones, in line with Part 1's aim that new items derive fr...

Maps to 1 other framework

51 total controls

DAMA-DMBOK2 - Data Management Body of Knowledge (2nd Edition)

11 source controls mapped|8 target controls covered

22%

Compare ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) with DAMA-DMBOK2 - Data Management Body of Knowledge (2nd Edition)

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What is ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) and who does it apply to?

ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) is a compliance framework from International (ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 32) with 5 domains and 51 controls. The metadata registry series: registering data descriptions with unique identifiers, provenance and status, naming and defining them within contexts, classifying and mapping them, and running registration through one authority per item with defined statuses and procedures; plus the rules for writing data definitions and naming conventions. Built from previews of the current parts and a held restatement of Parts 1 to 6; no part is held complete. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.

What does ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) actually require?

ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) has 51 controls organised across 5 domains. The largest domains are Part 6: Registration (ISO/IEC 11179-6:2023) – ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) (16 controls), Part 3: Metamodel for registry common facilities (ISO/IEC 11179-3:2023) – ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) (12 controls), Part 4: Formulation of data definitions (ISO/IEC 11179-4:2004) – ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) (12 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.

If I already comply with another framework, how much of ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) do I already cover?

ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR) maps to 1 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are DAMA-DMBOK2 - Data Management Body of Knowledge (2nd Edition) (22% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.

How do I implement ISO/IEC 11179 Metadata Registries (MDR)?

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