# Identifier Type

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The identifier type field is applicable to our **database** registry only.
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Providing the type of identifier system your database uses is **mandatory** for all database records.

*Please also see the general information regarding our* [*minimal curation requirements*](https://fairsharing.gitbook.io/fairsharing/how-to-update-a-record#minimal-curation-requirements)*.*
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Unambiguous identification of database content is important both for alignment with the FAIR Principles and for referencing and attribution of individual datasets within a database.

FAIRsharing **requires** that each database record provide the type of identifier(s) used in one of two ways:

1. Add the standardised persistent identifier schema to your record via the [Relationships](https://fairsharing.gitbook.io/fairsharing/associated-records) tab with the ***implements*** relationship type. An example is [Dryad](https://doi.org/10.25504/FAIRsharing.wkggtx), which ***implements*** the [DOI](https://doi.org/10.25504/FAIRsharing.hFLKCn) identifier schema. The ***implements*** relationship should only be used for the IDs minted/created by the database.
2. Tick the box in the [General Information](https://fairsharing.gitbook.io/fairsharing/record-sections-and-fields/general-information) tab that confirms that the database uses an internal identifier schema, and therefore will not require a relationship to the appropriate identifier schema as outlined in item 1.  An example is [OpenBiodiv](https://fairsharing.org/3818), which uses internal identifiers such as <https://openbiodiv.net/5f324c6b-d93e-4ff4-b123-ba3f9e293d68>.

For more information on the identifier schemas registered with FAIRsharing, please see our [note on identifier schema records](https://fairsharing.gitbook.io/fairsharing/record-sections-and-fields/registry-type#a-note-on-identifier-schema-records).