Segment category
A segment is a logical unit of information, like a data record. The Segment type is partitioned by initiator value. Each segment begins with a unique initiator, which identifies the segment. For example, the BUS segment begins with the initiator BUS.
Because an Element Delimiter must follow the segment initiator value and precede the first data element, each segment is defined as prefix delimited by the Element Delimiter, typically the plus sign + and has a terminator of Terminator Delimiter, typically the apostrophe ('). In addition, the release character is defined as Release Character Delimiter, typically the question mark (?).
Components of a segment can be Element types and Composite types. The segments were defined to comply with the rules specified in the EDIFACT documentation.