Identifier
/aɪˈdentɪfaɪər/
Definitions
A unique label or code used to distinguish one object or entity from another.
/aɪˈdentɪfaɪər/
A thing that identifies someone or something.
The serial number on the product is its unique identifier.
💡 Simply: It's like a special code or name that tells you exactly what something is. Like a username on a computer.
👶 For kids: It's a special name or code that helps us know what something is!
More Examples
In programming, an identifier is used to name a variable or a function.
The police used DNA as an identifier to link the suspect to the crime scene.
How It's Used
"Each variable in the code must have a unique identifier."
"A fingerprint serves as a biometric identifier."
Idioms & expressions
User identifier
A unique code or name assigned to a user for authentication and tracking.
"The website required a user identifier and password to log in."
Unique identifier
A label or code that can only belong to one specific entity.
"Each product is assigned a unique identifier for tracking purposes."
From Late Middle English *identifien*, from Old French *identifier*, from Medieval Latin *identificare*, from *idem* ("same") + *facere* ("to make").
The term 'identifier' and its related verbs started appearing in technical and scientific writings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as the concept of unique labeling and categorization became crucial in fields like biology, information management, and early computing.
Memory tip
Think of a 'name tag' for anything.
Word Origin
"To make the same"