What is a classification variant?

A classification variant is based on a classification version. In a variant, the categories of the classification version are split, aggregated or regrouped to provide additions or alternatives to the standard ordered structure of the base version.

A classification variant has two or more levels, which are either base version levels (i.e. levels of the classification version on which the variant is based) or the new levels created for the variant. At least one of the levels must be (part of) a base version level, which defines the relation of the variant to the base version. The term variant does not refer only to the partial structure composed of the new variant levels. It refers to the whole new structure composed of both base version levels and new variant levels.