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Reference.org
Name–value pair
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<p>A name–value pair, also called an attribute–value pair, key–value pair, or field–value pair, is a fundamental <a href="/facts/Data_(computing)/cPjfFHph">data representation</a> in <a href="/facts/Computer/SQe1aK05">computing systems</a> and <a href="/facts/Application_software/YQuj7Kog">applications</a>. Designers often desire an open-ended <a href="/facts/Data_structure/yNsNvL1I">data structure</a> that allows for <a href="/facts/Forward_compatibility/EvGkMPCm">future extension</a> without modifying existing code or data. In such situations, all or part of the <a href="/facts/Data_model/j1YyzpJ3">data model</a> may be expressed as a collection of <a href="/facts/Tuple/BI1HIxL8">2-tuples</a> in the form <attribute name, value> with each element being an attribute–value pair. Depending on the particular application and the implementation chosen by programmers, attribute names may or may not be unique. </p>