N1

Name. The X12 segment that opens a party identification loop — buyer, supplier, ship-to, carrier, payer.

Definition

N1 is one of the ANSI ASC X12 common segments. It identifies an entity playing a role in the transaction. Structure:

• N101 — Entity Identifier Code (element 98): party role — BY Buying Party, SE Selling Party, ST Ship To, BT Bill-to-Party, VN Vendor (distinct from SE).
• N102 — Name (element 93): legal name (up to 60 characters).
• N103 — Identification Code Qualifier (element 66): 1 DUNS, 9 DUNS+4, 92 Assigned by Buyer, 91 Assigned by Seller, 33 NAIC Code.
• N104 — Identification Code (element 67): the identifier itself.
• N105-06 — Entity Relationship Code & Entity Identifier Code (2): second role when the party carries one.

N1 opens a loop: the N2, N3, N4, REF, PER segments that follow immediately (and precede a new N1 or the end of the section) refer to the party named by this N1.

Origin

N1 has been defined in X12 since version 002001 (1985). Its status as a common segment (reused by almost every Transaction Set — 810, 850, 856, 940, etc.) makes it one of the three or four most-deployed segments in the standard. Maintained by ASC X12.

Example in context

Reading: the buyer (BY) Buyer SA, internal code BUYER-001 (qualified 92 Assigned by buyer), Paris address, VAT number, purchasing contact.

Related terms

• NAD — the EDIFACT equivalent of N1.
• PER — the contact within the N1 loop.
• REF — supplementary references for the party.
• DUNS — the typical identifier in N103/N104.