4.1 Purpose and Scope

An endpoint capability description communicates what an endpoint is prepared to send, receive, or otherwise support in an interoperability exchange.

Capability descriptions help exchange partners understand available services, select compatible exchange options, and identify operational constraints. They complement, but do not replace, the requirements established by applicable Transaction Definitions.

Capability descriptions may be published for an individual endpoint, a service, or a group of endpoints sharing the same capabilities. Organizations operating endpoints with materially different capabilities are encouraged to distinguish those capabilities clearly.

An organization’s business role does not, by itself, establish the transactions or technical functions supported by its endpoints.

The MAP Framework recommends publication of human-readable endpoint capability descriptions and permits additional machine-processable representations. This chapter does not establish capability publication as a prerequisite for MAP participation.