SNOMED CT browsers

SNOMED CT Browsers are software applications or tools used for searching, navigating, viewing and reviewing terminology content. For NRCs that want users and potential users to increase and enhance their knowledge of SNOMED CT, it can be a good idea to make a SNOMED CT browser freely available.

A typical browser can locate concepts and descriptions by searching the text of descriptions (terms) or by entering SNOMED CT identifiers. Browsers may also provide a way to navigate the SNOMED CT hierarchies. Browsers may display views of various artifacts including the set of related descriptions, the hierarchical relationships and other defining relationships of a concept.

A variety of different SNOMED CT browsers are available online, as downloadable applications or as web-based applications. But a Member can also choose to develop its own SNOMED CT browser and make it available for national users. This is especially relevant if national customized SNOMED CT content is developed and should be browsable, such as translations, Reference sets, etc. An NRC may download and install for national use the SNOMED International open source browser. As this is open source, it is also possible to add functionality to it. If an NRC does this, its contribution of the components back into the open source repository may be highly beneficial for all Members.

On the SNOMED International webpage on SNOMED CT Browsers, SNOMED International provides a list of the different types of browsers available. It is possible to add items to this list if you are aware of other browsers that are not included. Browsers are eligible for inclusion in the list if they are freely accessible software applications that provide searchable access to SNOMED CT.

• SNOMED International Browser can be found here: http://browser.ihtsdotools.org.
• An overview of some other SNOMED CT browsers can be found here: http://snomed.org/browsers