Which resource is specifically used to carry raw binary content such as a PDF or image within a FHIR interface?

• A. DocumentReference
• B. CatalogEntry
• C. Basic
• D. Binary

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that FHIR provides a dedicated resource for raw binary data. The Binary resource is designed specifically to hold binary payloads like PDFs, images, or other file types, and it includes a field to describe the data’s MIME type (so the recipient knows how to interpret it) along with the binary content itself. This makes it the direct and reliable way to transport binary content over a FHIR interface.

Other resources are not built to carry the raw payload themselves. For example, a document-type reference can point to a document or include an attachment, but the binary payload isn’t stored in the resource itself as the primary content. The remaining options are meant for catalog metadata or flexible data structures, not for the explicit transport of binary files.