Personal identifier
title: "Personal identifier" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["personal-life", "identity-documents", "privacy"] topic_path: "general/personal-life" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_identifier" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
Personal Identifiers (PID) are a subset of personally identifiable information (PII) data elements, which identify an individual and can permit another person PIIs include direct identifiers (name, social security number) and indirect identifiers (race, ethnicity, age).
Identifiers can be sensitive and non-sensitive, depending on whether it is a direct identifier that is uniquely associated with a person or a quasi-identifier that is not unique. A quasi-identifier cannot pin down an individual alone - it has to be combined with other identifiers.
Examples of PID
Privately issued ID credentials
- Benefit plan participation number
- Private health care authorization, access, or identification number
Transactional financial account numbers
- Bank account number
- Credit or debit card account number
- Personal identification number (PIN)
- taxpayer identification number
Biometric identifiers
- Fingerprint or voiceprint
- Iris or retina scans
- DNA
Health or medical information
- National Health certificate number
Electronic identification credentials
Full Date of Birth
- Month, day and year
European-defined sensitive data
Treated as PID globally, not just for citizens of the EU
- Racial or ethnic origin
- Political opinions
- Religious or philosophical beliefs
- Trade-union membership
- Health or sex life
- Offenses, criminal convictions, or security measures
- Proceedings from crimes or offenses
References
References
- "What Is Personally Identifiable Information?".
- University, Utah State. "Sensitive Data {{!}} Research Data Management".
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