# Define Absence Semantics

> A technique for choosing one representation for a missing value and stating what it means at the boundary.

Record: `lexicon:define-absence-semantics`
Kind: technique
Layer: [Contracts Core](https://banes-lab.com/records/layer/contracts-core.md)
Canonical: https://banes-lab.com/ontology/lexicon#lexicon-define-absence-semantics

Listed in [Lexicon terms](https://banes-lab.com/api/records/lexicon.md), after [Narrow Type](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon/narrow-type.md) and before [Binary Schema Encoding](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon/binary-schema-encoding.md).

## Category

- [Schema / Canonical Data / Semantics](https://banes-lab.com/records/lexicon-category/schema-canonical-data-semantics.md)

## Refactors

- [Null Semantics Drift](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/null-semantics-drift.md)

## Linked from

- [Anti-patterns](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/principles/architecture-category-anti-patterns.md)