Slot: key
True means that the key slot(s) uniquely identify the elements within a single container
URI: [linkml:key](https://w3id.org/linkml/key)
## Applicable Classes
| Name | Description | Modifies Slot |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [SlotDefinition](SlotDefinition.md) | an element that describes how instances are related to other instances | no |
## Properties
### Type and Range
| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Range | [Boolean](Boolean.md) |
| Domain | [SlotDefinition](SlotDefinition.md) |
| Domain Of | [SlotDefinition](SlotDefinition.md) |
### Cardinality and Requirements
| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
### Slot Characteristics
| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Inherited | Yes |
## In Subsets
* [SpecificationSubset](SpecificationSubset.md)
* [BasicSubset](BasicSubset.md)
* [RelationalModelProfile](RelationalModelProfile.md)
## Comments
* key is inherited
* a given domain can have at most one key slot (restriction to be removed in the future)
* identifiers and keys are mutually exclusive. A given domain cannot have both
* a key slot is automatically required. Keys cannot be optional
## See Also
* [linkml:unique_keys](https://w3id.org/linkml/unique_keys)
## Identifier and Mapping Information
### Schema Source
* from schema: https://w3id.org/linkml/meta
## Mappings
| Mapping Type | Mapped Value |
| --- | --- |
| self | linkml:key |
| native | linkml:key |
## LinkML Source
name: key
description: True means that the key slot(s) uniquely identify the elements within
a single container
comments:
- key is inherited
- a given domain can have at most one key slot (restriction to be removed in the future)
- identifiers and keys are mutually exclusive. A given domain cannot have both
- a key slot is automatically required. Keys cannot be optional
in_subset:
- SpecificationSubset
- BasicSubset
- RelationalModelProfile
from_schema: https://w3id.org/linkml/meta
see_also:
- linkml:unique_keys
rank: 1000
domain: slot_definition
inherited: true
domain_of:
- slot_definition
range: boolean