---
title: EdiDataElement
summary: API reference for EdiDataElement.
status: draft
owner: SAIF Doc Gen
last_reviewed: 2026-09-15
library: SAIF.Framework.Common.Files
reference_type: package
---

# EdiDataElement

`EdiDataElement` represents a simple (non-composite) X12 data element. Instances are produced by `EdiDataElementParser` when it splits a segment into elements ([BR-020](../../business-rules.md#br-020-first-element-is-the-segment-identifier)) and are serialized back to text with a trailing data-element delimiter (`*`) by `EdiRecordBuilder.BuildDataElementValue` ([BR-028](../../business-rules.md#br-028-simple-data-element-terminated-by-asterisk)).

## Purpose
- Represents one non-composite data element's raw value and ordinal position within its parent segment.
- Self-identifies as `ElementType.DataElement` so callers (e.g. `EdiSegment.GetCompositeElement`) can distinguish simple elements from composite ones without inspecting the value's content.
- `ToString()` re-serializes the element to its asterisk-terminated X12 text form via `EdiRecordBuilder.BuildDataElementValue`.

## Context
- Namespace: `SAIF.Common.Files.Edi`
- Assembly/package: `SAIF.Framework.Common.Files`
- Base class: `EdiElement`
- Implements: `IEdiDataElement`

## Public members
| Member | Signature | Purpose |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Type | `public override ElementType Type { get; }` | Always returns `ElementType.DataElement`, identifying this instance as a simple data element. |
| ToString | `public override string ToString()` | Serializes this element's `Value` with a trailing asterisk delimiter via `EdiRecordBuilder.BuildDataElementValue` ([BR-028](../../business-rules.md#br-028-simple-data-element-terminated-by-asterisk)). |

## Inherited public members

Members in this section are inherited from `EdiElement` in `SAIF.Framework.Common.Files`. They are available on this type through inheritance, though `Type` is overridden above and documented there with its `EdiDataElement`-specific behavior.

| Member | Signature | Purpose | Origin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Index | `public int Index { get; set; }` | The element's ordinal position within its parent segment. | `SAIF.Framework.Common.Files` — `EdiElement` |
| Value | `public string Value { get; set; }` | The raw text value of this data element. | `SAIF.Framework.Common.Files` — `EdiElement` |
| Type | `public abstract ElementType Type { get; }` | Identifies the concrete element kind. | `SAIF.Framework.Common.Files` — `EdiElement` |

## Sources
- Common\SAIF.Common.Files\Edi\EdiDataElement.cs
- Common\SAIF.Common.Files\Edi\IEdiDataElement.cs