---
title: 'DocumentReference (FHIR R5)'
description: 'FHIR R5 DocumentReference resource.'
nav: 'API / R5 / DocumentReference'
order: 80
version: v1
fhir: r5
source: generated
updated: '2026-09-23'
---

# DocumentReference (FHIR R5)

<FhirResourceHeader fhir="r5" slug="documentreference" />

FHIR R5 DocumentReference resource.

> This page is auto-generated from the server's FHIR R5 CapabilityStatement (`/fhir/R5/metadata`).

## FHIR R5 Specification

Official spec: [DocumentReference — HL7 FHIR R5](https://hl7.org/fhir/R5/documentreference.html)

## Supported Interactions

- **read** — Read a single resource by ID (`GET /fhir/R5/{Resource}/{id}`)
- **search-type** — Search resources with query parameters (`GET /fhir/R5/{Resource}?...`)
- **create** — Create a new resource (`POST /fhir/R5/{Resource}`)
- **update** — Update an existing resource (`PUT /fhir/R5/{Resource}/{id}`)
- **$upload** — operation

## Scopes

Scopes are shared across FHIR releases — the same `system/DocumentReference.*` scope grants DocumentReference access on both `/fhir/R4` and `/fhir/R5`.

- <Scope name="system/DocumentReference.rs" /> — see [scope reference](/v1/scopes#system-documentreference-rs)
- <Scope name="system/DocumentReference.cru" /> — see [scope reference](/v1/scopes#system-documentreference-cru)

## Search Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Notes |
|-----------|------|-------|
| `patient` | reference | Resource reference — supply the UUID of the referenced resource. |
| `type` | token | Exact match. For identifiers use `system|value` format. |
| `category` | token | Exact match. For identifiers use `system|value` format. |
| `date` | date | Supports FHIR date prefixes: `eq`, `ne`, `gt`, `ge`, `lt`, `le`. Format: `[prefix]YYYY-MM-DD`. |
| `_count` | number | Integer. For `_count`: default 20, max 100. |
| `_offset` | number | Integer. For `_count`: default 20, max 100. |

## Endpoints

Operations, request/response examples, and code samples mirror the R4 surface — call them at `/fhir/R5` with the same token and scopes. See the [DocumentReference R4 reference](/v1/api/r4/documentreference).