Viewgraph · 6 frames
Identity lifecycle
Reserved, active, deprecated, superseded, and retired as Document 08 v1.1 defines them, with the permitted transitions and why no state ever frees an RID for reuse.
Viewgraph6 frames
Identity lifecycle
The identity has a registry state, not a publication state
Draft, published, or archived belong to applications. These five states belong to the RID.
RSM ID Learning Center
rsmid.org
Meanings · 1 of 2
Reserved, active, and deprecated identities
Before and during use. No state permits reassigning the RID.
Committed and never reassignable; referent not yet finalized. Must not imply an active resource.
A registered continuing referent with authoritative identity metadata.
Still valid, discouraged for new references; may point to alternatives.
Meanings · 2 of 2
Superseded and retired identities
Neither frees the RID: both stay attached to their original referent.
A distinct successor, or governed succession; the original RID is retained.
No longer maintained; stays reserved, with a tombstone where permitted.
Transitions
Seven normal transitions
Everything else is either an audited exception or not permitted at all.
Rendering diagram…
Restoring retired or superseded to active needs a separately audited exceptional procedure — never an implicit change.
Governance
Every transition is recorded, and some changes are not transitions
Lifecycle moves only by an authorized, append-only event.
Effective time, actor, reason, authorization, in append-only history.
Content revisions, access policy, publication states, administrative transfer.
Resolution
How each state resolves
Lifecycle states shape the response; they are not resolution statuses themselves.
May resolve with 200; deprecated may add a notice and alternatives.
200 with successor information.
410 with a tombstone where publication is permitted; otherwise 404.
A limited permitted record, or 404 when withheld.
Read as text
- Identity lifecycleThe identity has a registry state, not a publication stateDraft, published, or archived belong to applications. These five states belong to the RID.Source: Document 08 v1.1 §9.1, §18.4
- Meanings · 1 of 2Reserved, active, and deprecated identitiesBefore and during use. No state permits reassigning the RID.reservedCommitted and never reassignable; referent not yet finalized. Must not imply an active resource.activeA registered continuing referent with authoritative identity metadata.deprecatedStill valid, discouraged for new references; may point to alternatives.Source: Document 08 v1.1 §18.4
- Meanings · 2 of 2Superseded and retired identitiesNeither frees the RID: both stay attached to their original referent.supersededA distinct successor, or governed succession; the original RID is retained.retiredNo longer maintained; stays reserved, with a tombstone where permitted.Source: Document 08 v1.1 §18.4, §9.5
- TransitionsSeven normal transitionsEverything else is either an audited exception or not permitted at all.Reserved moves to active. Active moves to deprecated, superseded, or retired. Deprecated moves back to active, or on to superseded or retired. These seven are the normal transitions.Source: Document 08 v1.1 §18.4
- GovernanceEvery transition is recorded, and some changes are not transitionsLifecycle moves only by an authorized, append-only event.Each transition recordsEffective time, actor, reason, authorization, in append-only history.Not lifecycle changesContent revisions, access policy, publication states, administrative transfer.Source: Document 08 v1.1 §18.4
- ResolutionHow each state resolvesLifecycle states shape the response; they are not resolution statuses themselves.active and deprecatedMay resolve with 200; deprecated may add a notice and alternatives.superseded200 with successor information.retired410 with a tombstone where publication is permitted; otherwise 404.reservedA limited permitted record, or 404 when withheld.Source: Document 08 v1.1 §9.5, §18.7
Sources and provenance
Normative basis
- Document 08 v1.1 — Section 9.1Lifecycle states
- Document 08 v1.1 — Section 9.5Retirement and tombstones
- Document 08 v1.1 — Section 18.4Identity lifecycle state semantics
- Document 08 v1.1 — Section 18.7Logical status to HTTP mapping
This viewgraph is an informative explanation. Where it and the specifications differ, Documents 08 and 09 v1.1 govern.
What it contains
- Document 08 v1.1 · normative
- Grounded directly in Document 08, the controlling standard. Cited by section.
- Interpretation
- Explanation or design rationale written for this Learning Center. It does not add requirements.
Related
Pathway: Resolution · Technical · Revised 2026-10-09 · Content ID viewgraph.identity-lifecycle (a page identifier on this site, not an RID)