Each rule and recommendation is given a unique identifier within a standard. These identifiers consist of three parts:
- A three letter mnemonic representing the section of the standard
- A two digit numeric value in the range of 00-99
- The letter "A" or "C" to indicate whether the coding practice is an advisory recommendation or a compulsory rule
The three letter mnemonic can be used to group similar coding practices and to indicate to which category a coding practice belongs.
The numeric value is used to give each coding practice a unique identifier. Numeric values in the range of 00-29 are reserved for recommendations, while values in the range of 30-99 are reserved for rules.
The letter "A" or "C" in the identifier is not required to uniquely identify each coding practice. It is used only to provide a clear indication of whether the coding practice is an advisory recommendation or a compulsory rule.