---
title: "Reference Data service"
slug: "reference-data-service"
abstract: "Overview of Sitecore Reference Data supported infrastructure, references, scaling, and privacy and security."
---
# Reference Data service

The Reference Data service allows you to create or retrieve reference data using the Reference Data Client API. Examples of reference data include event definitions and airport codes.

## Supported infrastructure

You can host the Reference Data service on:

- IIS
- [Azure App Service](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/app-service/)

Refer to the [Sitecore compatibility table](https://kb.sitecore.net/articles/087164) for compatible versions.

## Reference structure

The Reference Data service has its place in the Sitecore reference structure. It can be referenced by other roles, and it can also reference other roles.

![Illustration showing the Reference Data service's place in the Sitecore reference structure.](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/xp/en/developers/104/platform-administration-and-architecture/images/reference-data.png)

### Referenced by

The Reference Data service is referenced by the following roles:

- [Content Delivery](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/104/platform-administration-and-architecture/content-delivery--cd-.html "Content Delivery (CD)")
- [Content Management](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/104/platform-administration-and-architecture/content-management--cm-.html "Content Management (CM)")

### References

The Reference Data service references the following roles:

#### Storage roles

| Role name | Connection string name | Port | Type | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [xDB Reference Data database](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/104/platform-administration-and-architecture/xdb-reference-data-database.html) | xdb.referencedata | 443 | SQL |  |

## Privacy and security

Assuming default behavior, the Reference Data service does not handle or store personal data.

### Assumptions

- Personal data is not being sent to the Reference Data service.
- Contact data is not saved in the [xDB Reference Data database](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/104/platform-administration-and-architecture/xdb-reference-data-database.html "xDB Reference Data database").