> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.metriport.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# observation_category

A code that classifies the general type of observation being made (`Observation.category[]`).

**Primary Keys:**

* observation\_category\_id

**Foreign Keys:**

* observation\_id - links to the [observation](/medical-api/handling-data/schema-v100/observation/base) table

| Column                    | Data Type | Description                            |
| ------------------------- | --------- | -------------------------------------- |
| observation\_category\_id | varchar   | Unique identifier for the category row |
| observation\_id           | varchar   | FK to the parent observation record    |
| category\_text            | varchar   | Display text for the category          |

**Related Tables:**

**Parent:**

* [observation](/medical-api/handling-data/schema-v100/observation/base)

**Child:**

* [observation\_category\_coding](/medical-api/handling-data/schema-v100/observation/category_coding)