View and download EDI specs Last updated: 2026-11-10
The EDI Spec Library has a free, machine-readable spec for every transaction in X12, HIPAA, EDIFACT, EANCOM, HL7, NCPDP, IATA and VDA. Each spec page shows the structure of the transaction, and lets you download the spec in three formats:
- OpenEDI JSON, an OpenAPI 3 schema with EDI extensions, for ediFabric Native, ediFabric Cloud and the EDI Spec Builder.
- ediFabric .NET, the C# template for the transaction.
- ediFabric Native, the model ediFabric Native loads to parse and generate EDI.
Use the specs with ediFabric and EdiNation: share a spec, unchanged, with your team and trading partners to agree an EDI exchange, generate classes from it for use with ediFabric Native or Cloud, or use it as the starting point for a custom spec in the Spec Builder. The specs are copyright EDI Fabric Limited. Copying, converting or extracting them into another product, library or format isn't allowed. See section 3.6 of the license agreement.
Find a spec
Open the EDI Spec Library and type a transaction ID or name in the search box, such as 837 or purchase order. The results list every standard and version that has the transaction:
You can also browse. The HIPAA 5010 transactions are listed on the library page, and Browse by standard lists every standard and version. Select a version to see all its transactions, then select a transaction to open its spec page:
Explore the structure
The spec page lists the loops and segments of the transaction, with their usage and maximum repeats. For the composites, data elements and codes, download the spec, or open it in the EDI Spec Builder with Customize in Spec Builder.
Download the spec
Anyone can view a spec. Downloads, except the free sample below, need a free ediFabric account on the Community plan or a paid plan. Select Sign in at the top of the page, or Sign up free if you don't have an account yet. The first time you download, accept the spec licence. Every plan can download up to 50 specs a day, in any format, and the count resets at midnight UTC.
Under Download, select a format:
- OpenEDI JSON saves the spec in OpenEDI format. Generate classes, further down the page, shows how to generate classes from it in Python, Node.js, Java, Go, Rust or C.
- C# template saves a ZIP with the ediFabric .NET template and the common segments, composites and codes it needs.
- Native model saves the model for ediFabric Native. X12 specs only.
The specs the ediFabric examples use, such as the X12 850, 810 and 856, the HIPAA 837P and 835, and the EDIFACT D96A ORDERS and INVOIC, are a free sample. They download without signing in and don't count toward the daily limit.
To learn how to use the models in your code, read EDI models.
Customize the spec
The standard specs can't be changed. To change a spec for a trading partner, sign in and select Customize in Spec Builder. The EDI Spec Builder also needs a free ediFabric account on the Community plan or a paid plan, and a copy counts as a download. This copies the spec to the EDI Spec Builder under a name you choose:
To learn more, read Create and import EDI specs.
Next steps
To learn more about how to translate and validate EDI files with EdiNation, try these tutorials: