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<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><font size=3>There's a
difference between an identifier, a unique identifier, and
...</font></blockquote><br>
What Ben and Alexis wrote is correct. In his message, John uses a
term that many folks use in our common parlance: 'unique
identifier'. John explains several practical matters about the use
of names. I don't question his analysis: he explains some important
matters and explains them clearly. <br><br>
But I sure don't like the term he chose to use.<br><br>
I feel strongly we should never use 'unique identifier', no matter what
meaning we intend. This term only promotes misunderstanding.
<br><br>
There is a well established technical meaning for 'identifier' and we
should stick to it. This meaning not only suits our technical
requirements, it suits the shared understanding of the general
population.<br><br>
<font size=3>12.1 Name: A term which, in a given naming context, refers
to an entity.<br>
12.2 Identifier: An unambiguous name, in a given naming context.<br>
12.3 Name space: A set of terms usable as names.<br>
12.4 Naming context: A relation between a set of names and a set of
entities. The set of names belongs to a single name space.<br>
6.1 Entity: Any concrete or abstract thing of interest.<br><br>
-- X.902 | International Standard 10746-2
<br>
<a href="http://www.joaquin.net/ODP/" eudora="autourl">
http://www.joaquin.net/ODP/<br><br>
</a></font>It means that there are no identifiers except in relation to a
naming context. With respect to a given naming context, an
identifier is a name for a single entity. If, in a given naming
context, a name refers to two or more entities, that name is not an
identifier.<br><br>
Cordially, Joaquin<br><br>
<br>
<font size=3>I feel it would be a waste of our time, but if challenged I
can quickly demonstrate that there is no such thing as an identifier that
is unique. My point about 'unique identifier' is that it muddles
the conversation and sows confusion. But another point is this:
It's not useful to call an identifier that is not unique a 'unique
identifier'. <br><br>
<br><br>
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