# ID namespace source
<a name="create-id-namespace-source"></a>

The *ID namespace source* is the source of the data in an [ID mapping workflow](create-id-mapping-workflow.md).

Before you create an ID namespace source you must first create a schema mapping or a matching workflow, depending on your use case. For more information, see [Creating a schema mapping](create-schema-mapping.md) and [Match input data using a matching workflow](create-matching-workflow.md).

After you create an ID namespace source, you can use it along with an ID namespace target in an ID mapping workflow. For more information, see [Map input data using an ID mapping workflow](create-id-mapping-workflow.md).

There are two ways to create an ID namespace source in the AWS Entity Resolution console: the [rule-based method](create-id-namespace-source-rule-based.md) or the [provider services method](create-id-namespace-source-provider-services.md).

**Topics**
+ [Creating an ID namespace source (rule-based)](create-id-namespace-source-rule-based.md)
+ [Creating an ID namespace source (provider services)](create-id-namespace-source-provider-services.md)