# identifier (label)

a name that is just different from others

- Computed level: L8 (depth in the emergence graph, not abstraction)
- Status: review  ·  Domain: emergence  ·  Arena: identifier

## Emergence
**Emerges from:** [name](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-name.identifier), [difference](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-difference.relation), [just](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-just.exact), [others](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-others.distinct-entities)

**Through:** The name tags a thing, the difference marks it as distinct from others, and the exactness makes it refer to only that thing.

**Novel properties:**
- unique reference
- distinct identification
- exact differentiation

## Examples
- The International Space Station uses alphanumeric serial numbers on components to prevent misidentification during repairs. *(engineering)*
- In 2023, ICANN allocated the domain name 'example.bank' to distinguish it from all other web addresses. *(computing)*
- The Social Security Administration assigns unique nine-digit identifiers to U.S. citizens for tax tracking. *(institutions)*

## Used by
- [login](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-login.digital) (L12)

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*Canonical: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-identifier.label*  
*Structured data: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-identifier.label.json*  
*Every definition provably resolves to space, time, energy and pattern.*