# OpenHIE Component Specifications The purpose of the OpenHIE Component Specification section is to outline what it means to be an OpenHIE Component. (The OpenHIE Components are depicted in the gray box in figure 2.1). Each of the components is defined and requirements and recommendations are documented. Additionally, the non-functional requirements outlined in section 4 of this document are applicable to each OpenHIE Component. For a software application to meet OpenHIE expectations for a specific component role in OpenHIE, that software must support any “required” workflows and any other “required” functionality. **Definitions:** * **Recommendation:** The recommendation is encouraged and viewed as an important function or workflow that supports OpenHIE goals. * **Requirement:** To qualify as an OpenHIE Component, the required function or workflow must be supported. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://guides.ohie.org/arch-spec/openhie-component-specifications-1.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.