Types

A type defines a structure - an allowable set of values. A type might describe a simple value (e.g., a string, a number) or a complex object (e.g., PersonType).

A type for a person’s last name property might be a string.

A type for an address property might represent an object, with its own set of properties for street, city, state, and zip.

Types tend to be less specific than properties. That is by design in order to increase reusability.

The properties nc:PersonBirthDate, nc:ActivityDate, and it:ItineraryDepartureDate are all dates and can each reuse the same nc:DateType type.

Kinds

There are three fundamental representations for a NIEM type. This list corresponds directly with XML type styles. NIEM defines corresponding representations of these types for JSON, which is structured differently.

Complex Types with Complex Content
A complex type with complex content (CCC) is a structure that represents an object and may contain elements and attributes.
Complex Types with Simple Content
A complex type with simple content (CSC) is a structure that represents a simple value and that may optionally contain attributes.
Simple Types
A simple type is a structure that represents a simple value only.