Lexicon
MID (Machine ID)
What a MID means as a legacy Google entity identifier, and how Paul Truscott checks for it when auditing older entity data that predates modern KGMID assignment.
Factual Definition
A MID (Machine ID) is a legacy entity identifier, formatted as /m/ followed by an alphanumeric string, originally assigned in Google's Freebase database and still used in parts of Google's Knowledge Graph to uniquely identify entities.
Paul Truscott's Perspective on MID
Paul Truscott's perspective on MID is that it is a useful historical marker when auditing an entity's data trail, since its presence often indicates a legacy identifier inherited from Freebase before Google's Knowledge Graph fully absorbed and superseded that system with KGMID. His view is that older, more established entities are more likely to carry a legacy MID alongside a modern KGMID, and inconsistencies between the two, or a MID that has never been properly linked to a current KGMID, can indicate an entity record that has not been fully modernised or reconciled within Google's current systems.
He treats identifying a client's legacy MID, where one exists, as part of a thorough entity reconciliation audit, checking that legacy and current identifiers point consistently to the same entity record.
How Paul Truscott Applies MID Knowledge
When auditing an established client entity's Knowledge Graph presence, Paul checks for the presence of a legacy MID and confirms it is correctly associated with the entity's current KGMID, flagging any inconsistency as a reconciliation issue requiring attention. Read the full methodology.
Why MID Matters to Paul Truscott's Practice
MID is a legacy identifier Paul checks for during entity audits, particularly for established brands with a long-standing web presence, as part of his broader entity reconciliation discipline. Read the full methodology.