Direct Identifiers
Data fields that can identify a person on their own, such as full name, exact email address, phone number, or government-issued ID.
What This Really Means
Direct identifiers are high-risk for privacy and typically require strict handling: minimization, encryption, access controls, and separation from analytic datasets.
Many compliance frameworks (including EU/GDPR-aligned practices) treat direct identifiers as highly sensitive because misuse can cause immediate harm.
Examples
Email address stored separately from survey answers
Phone number collected only for account recovery
Removing names before sharing data with analysts.
Common Misunderstandings
Tap each myth to reveal the reality
More accurately, Direct Identifiers refers to data fields that can identify a person on their own, such as full name, exact email address, phone number, or government-issued ID, and removing direct identifiers makes data anonymous doesn’t follow from that.
Direct Identifiers isn’t a synonym for anonymization, and it points to data fields that can identify a person on their own, such as full name, exact email address, phone number, or government-issued ID.
Direct Identifiers should never override consent or comfort, and safety stays the priority.
More accurately, Direct Identifiers refers to data fields that can identify a person on their own, such as full name, exact email address, phone number, or government-issued ID, and direct identifiers are safe if stored internally doesn’t follow from that.
Tags
Inside LoveIQ
We identify patterns related to Direct Identifiers by analyzing responses in our assessment modules, helping you understand your unique relationship dynamics.
Sample visualization of a gap metric.
“You don't need to label yourself. These terms help describe patterns — not define you.”
Return to Glossary Index