# meaning binding

## meaning binding

A terminology binding that represents the clinical meaning of a data item or collection of data items.

#### Notes

* A *meaning binding* associates a clinical meaning with either a data entry context or a defined collection of data items in an electronic health record information model. The clinical meaning of an instance of a data item with a *meaning binding* is determined by applying the *meaning binding* to the value or set of values in that instance.
* SNOMED CT *meaning bindings* should be represented by expression templates containing one or more template slots that can be replaced by concepts entered or stored in a particular context.

#### Example

* An application that manages surgical procedure requests could identify requested procedures using concepts that are subtypes of [387713003 | Surgical procedure|](http://snomed.info/id/387713003) . In this case, the data item in which that *concept* is recorded should have a *meaning binding* that explicitly indicates that this is a request for that procedure. The *expression template* below represents this *meaning binding*. It indicates that the procedure selected should replace the "@procedure" template slot, resulting in an expression that means procedure has been requested, rather than suggesting incorrectly, that it has been done.

/\* Expression Template \*/

[400999005 |Procedure requested (situation)|](http://snomed.info/id/400999005) :\
{ [363589002 |Associated procedure (attribute)|](http://snomed.info/id/363589002) = \[\[ +id < [387713003 |Surgical procedure|](http://snomed.info/id/387713003) @procedure ]] }

/\* Resulting Expression if "38102005 Cholecystectomy (procedure)" is entered \*/

[400999005 |Procedure requested (situation)|](http://snomed.info/id/400999005) :\
{ [363589002 |Associated procedure (attribute)|](http://snomed.info/id/363589002) = [38102005 |Cholecystectomy (procedure)|](http://snomed.info/id/38102005) }

## Alternative

* ```
  Semantic binding
  ```

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