What is Reference Data

Reference data is a type of data used to classify or categorize other data. It’s kind of like an official set of standard values everyone agrees to use. It usually consists of relatively static example values that teams can use to keep their systems, processes, or datasets consistent.

Think of reference data as the “labels” or “codes” that everyone agrees to use to keep things uniform.

Examples

Type of reference data Examples of standardized values
Color Red, Navy Blue, Charcoal
Country code US, DE, FR, JP
Product category Laptops, Dishwashers, LED Bulbs

A brief history

The concept of reference data has been around for decades. In traditional IT and database management, reference data was used to keep things like country codes, currency types, or units of measurement consistent across systems.

As digital commerce grew, it stopped just being about internal consistency: sharing standardized data became important, too. Brands and retailers needed to speak the same language, so industries started developing shared standards

Some were informal (just internal naming conventions), while others were formalized by groups like GS1, ETIM, or PI-certified. These gave structure to things like color, material, and energy ratings, making product data easier to share, compare, and manage.

Good to know

Reference data isn’t a tool or software. It’s the “language” or vocabulary you use to organize and describe product details. Different industries or regions may have their own sets of standards for reference data.

Know more

Frequently Asked Questions

Who uses reference data?
Reference data is useful for anyone handling data. Most companies will have their own internal reference data, and it’s important to align on what reference data to use when sharing data between different companies, whether that’s manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, or marketplaces. It’s normal to reformat data to fit a shared reference data when sharing it.
Is reference data the same everywhere?
No, reference data is not the same everywhere. Different industries, regions, or companies might use their own standards or variations, so it’s important to align on which set to use.
What’s the benefit of having reference data?
Reference data keeps product information consistent, helps cut down on errors, makes data easier to search and compare, and makes it easier to integrate different systems.