The Encapsulated Data template is used to transmit binary large object (blob) data. This may include word processing documents, images, video, audio, waveforms, multimedia etc. Encapsulated data may be referenced as an external file or directly incorporated into the CDA document. If it is referenced it may be referenced either external or internally to a message package that may be used to carry the document. In the former case the reference would be to a web URL or to a file in a contextually relevant file system directory. In the latter case, the blob may be packaged along with the document in the transport message.

In all cases, a reference to the encapsulated data is contained in the CDA document. All file types are supported using a reference subject to specific restrictions identified at the document template level.