Format: ansLength: ...999Variable (LLLVAR — 3-digit length prefix)
DE 48
Additional Data — Private
What it is
DE 48 is where networks put everything the 1987 base standard never imagined: Mastercard structures it as sub-elements (SE01–SE99, each with sub-fields) covering everything from token requestor IDs to installment data; Visa defines its own usage tables per message type. Never assume DE 48 contents are portable between networks — parse it against the specific network manual.
Specification reference
Defined in ISO 8583:1987 (base). Card networks publish their own dialect tables (Visa BASE I / V.I.P., Mastercard CIS) that refine formats, lengths, and — for private-use elements — the entire layout. Always confirm against the interface specification you implement.