C.31:4.2 - Characteristic classes
Every C.31 head is classified before use:
| Class | Use | Boundary |
|---|---|---|
DirectCharacteristic | A C.16-governed characteristic can be named with subject, scale, unit or unitless interpretation, declared measurement basis, comparability basis, and repair action. | It is not automatically a score or decision selector. |
CompositeCharacteristicDescription | The head is a bundle or description with sub-slots, such as function-module alignment or flow-boundary alignment. | Do not pretend the bundle is one raw measure. |
LensBackedCharacteristic | The head depends on a model description or mathematical lens, such as compression or RG or coarsening lens. | Apply C.29 for lens use that changes action. |
TemporalOrScaleCharacteristic | The head depends on time window, repeated instance, scale variable, aggregation scope, or source-return condition. | Apply C.31.ASAP for architecture scale preference, C.27 for temporal adequacy, and C.18.1 or C.19.1 when scale-law or general BLP preference claims are being made. |
CausalUseSensitiveCharacteristic | The interpretation is used to claim effect or intervention success. | Apply C.28 before relying on the claim causally. |
ReportOnlyProxy | The interpretation is only a local diagnostic or communication aid. | State forbidden overread and the subject pattern needed for any beyond-local-repair use. |
In C.31, declared basis and comparability basis name C.16-compatible measurement or comparison fields. They are not generic reason words and are not substitutes for evidence, assurance, cause, source, decision, or architecture-description relations.