Document-automation terms, explained clearly.
Short, precise definitions of the standards and formats Dokmatiq builds on. Each term with a code example and how to use it via the API.
E-invoicing
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CII (Cross Industry Invoice)
UN/CEFACT XML syntax for invoices — one of the two accepted formats for EN 16931-compliant e-invoices and the technical foundation of ZUGFeRD.
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EN 16931
European standard defining the semantic data model of electronic invoices — the shared foundation for XRechnung, Peppol BIS, ZUGFeRD and Factur-X.
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Leitweg-ID
Unique recipient identifier for e-invoices to German public authorities — mandatory in field BT-10 of every B2G XRechnung.
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Peppol
European network for standardised, cross-border exchange of business documents — primarily e-invoices — via accredited Access Points.
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Peppol Access Point
Certified service provider that delivers documents into the Peppol network or receives them — the technical gateway between your software and the European e-invoicing transport network.
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UBL (Universal Business Language)
OASIS XML standard for business documents — the second accepted syntax for EN 16931 e-invoices and the default format in the European Peppol network.
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XRechnung
The German XML invoice standard and mandatory format for invoices to public-sector buyers (B2G) in Germany.
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ZUGFeRD
A German-French hybrid e-invoice format: a PDF/A-3 document with an embedded machine-readable CII XML file.
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Digital signatures
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CAdES
ETSI standard for electronic signatures on binary files — built on top of CMS/PKCS#7, it signs arbitrary payloads like ZIPs, XML containers or binary formats.
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PAdES
ETSI standard for electronic signatures in PDF documents — embeds the signature directly in the PDF, supports long-term validation and is eIDAS-compliant.
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PKCS#12
Binary file format for bundling a private key and certificates under a single password — the de-facto format for signing certificates on servers and clients.
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Qualified Electronic Signature (QES)
The highest assurance level of electronic signatures under the eIDAS regulation — legally equivalent to a handwritten signature, based on a qualified certificate and a secure signature creation device.
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Trusted Timestamp (TSA)
Cryptographic proof issued by a trusted third party that a document existed at a specific point in time — the foundation of long-term valid signatures and audit-safe archives.
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XAdES
ETSI standard for electronic signatures in XML documents — built on W3C XMLDSig, it signs invoices, government filings and business messages directly inside the XML stream.
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PDF & archiving
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OAIS (ISO 14721)
International reference model for digital long-term archives — defines roles, information packages and functional entities an archive must fulfil to keep content readable and understandable for decades.
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PDF/A
The long-term archive format for PDF documents, standardised as ISO 19005. Guarantees identical rendering of a document for decades.
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PDF/UA
Standard for accessible PDFs, codified as ISO 14289 — requires logical structure, Unicode mapping and alternative texts so that screen readers and assistive technologies can render them correctly.
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