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XBRL Taxonomies
A taxonomy is the dictionary of XBRL. It defines what can be reported -- the vocabulary of concepts, their data types, their relationships, and their human-readable labels.
What Makes Up a Taxonomy?
A taxonomy is a collection of:
- 05 XBRL Schemas (.xsd files) -- Define the concepts (the data elements)
- 07 XBRL Linkbases (.xml files) -- Define relationships between concepts and attach metadata
Taxonomy
├── Schema(s) (.xsd)
│ └── Concept definitions (elements)
├── Label Linkbase (.xml)
│ └── Human-readable names in multiple languages
├── Presentation Linkbase (.xml)
│ └── How to display concepts in a tree
├── Calculation Linkbase (.xml)
│ └── Arithmetic validation rules
├── Definition Linkbase (.xml)
│ └── Dimensional relationships and other associations
└── Reference Linkbase (.xml)
└── Links to authoritative standards (e.g., IAS 1, paragraph 68)Who Creates Taxonomies?
Taxonomies are created by standards-setters and regulators:
- IFRS Foundation -- IFRS Taxonomy (used internationally)
- FASB -- US-GAAP Taxonomy (used in the US)
- CIPC -- South African taxonomy (see 20 CIPC Taxonomy Example)
- National regulators -- Country-specific extensions
Base vs Extension Taxonomies
- Base taxonomies are published by standards bodies (e.g., the IFRS Taxonomy)
- Extension taxonomies are created by reporting entities to add company-specific concepts not in the base
- Extension taxonomies import the base and add new schemas and linkbases
Discoverable Taxonomy Set (DTS)
See 11 Entry Points and DTS for how a processor discovers all the schemas and linkbases that make up a complete taxonomy.
Taxonomy Distribution
Taxonomies are distributed as 12 Taxonomy Packages -- ZIP files containing schemas, linkbases, and metadata.
Examples in This Vault
- 19 LEI Taxonomy Example -- A simple taxonomy defining Legal Entity Identifiers
- 20 CIPC Taxonomy Example -- South Africa's comprehensive reporting taxonomy