Where should an implementor check first when determining the FHIR version?

Where should an implementor check first when determining the FHIR version?

• A. StructureDefinition
• B. Metadata
• C. ValueSet
• D. Patient

Answer: (B)

To know which FHIR version a server uses, you should query the server’s metadata endpoint. The metadata request returns a CapabilityStatement that includes the fhirVersion field, which tells you the exact FHIR version the server implements (for example, 4.0.1). This is the authoritative, standardized source for the server’s conformance information and supported capabilities. Relying on a StructureDefinition or ValueSet only reveals information about a particular profile or vocabulary and doesn’t indicate the overall FHIR version the server is using. A resource like Patient is just data and doesn’t convey version details. So the first, reliable step is accessing the metadata to read the fhirVersion in the CapabilityStatement.

To know which FHIR version a server uses, you should query the server’s metadata endpoint. The metadata request returns a CapabilityStatement that includes the fhirVersion field, which tells you the exact FHIR version the server implements (for example, 4.0.1). This is the authoritative, standardized source for the server’s conformance information and supported capabilities.

Relying on a StructureDefinition or ValueSet only reveals information about a particular profile or vocabulary and doesn’t indicate the overall FHIR version the server is using. A resource like Patient is just data and doesn’t convey version details. So the first, reliable step is accessing the metadata to read the fhirVersion in the CapabilityStatement.