diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 2dc7a63f..73871d42 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,12 +9,33 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ### Added
 
+- add pattern constants for vocabs, emails, urls and ids to types module
+- add regex pattern to json schema of identifier fields
+- automatically add examples and useScheme to json schema of enum fields
+
 ### Changes
 
+- BREAKING: use `identifier` instead of `stableTargetId` to get merged item from backend
+- ensure identifier unions are typed to generic `Identifier` instead of the first match
+  to signal that we don't actually know which of the union types is correct
+- unify pydantic schema configuration for all types
+- consistently parse emails, identifiers and temporals in models to their type, not str
+- consistently serialize emails, ids and temporals in models to str, not their type
+- make instances of Link type hashable, to harmonize them with Text models
+
 ### Deprecated
 
 ### Removed
 
+- drop manual examples from enum fields, because they are autogenerated now
+- BREAKING: remove `MEX_ID_PATTERN` from types, in favor of `IDENTIFIER_PATTERN`
+- BREAKING: make public `MEX_ID_ALPHABET` constant from identifier module private
+- BREAKING: remove `__str__` methods from Text and Link classes
+- BREAKING: drop support for parsing UUIDs as Identifiers, this was unused
+- BREAKING: drop support for parsing Links from markdown syntax, this was unused
+- BREAKING: remove pydantic1-style `validate` methods from all type models
+- BREAKING: `BackendApiConnector.post_models` in favor of `post_extracted_items`
+
 ### Fixed
 
 ### Security
@@ -22,8 +43,8 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 ## [0.37.0] - 2024-10-01
 
 ### Added
-- added methods for extracting persons by name or ID from ldap
 
+- added methods for extracting persons by name or ID from ldap
 - `contains_only_types` to check if fields are annotated as desired
 - `group_fields_by_class_name` utility to simplify filtered model/field lookups
 - new parameters to `get_inner_types` to customize what to unpack
diff --git a/mex/common/backend_api/connector.py b/mex/common/backend_api/connector.py
index 4db67cfe..94731488 100644
--- a/mex/common/backend_api/connector.py
+++ b/mex/common/backend_api/connector.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-from typing import cast
 from urllib.parse import urljoin
 
 from requests.exceptions import HTTPError
@@ -19,7 +18,6 @@
     AnyRuleSetResponse,
 )
 from mex.common.settings import BaseSettings
-from mex.common.types import AnyExtractedIdentifier
 
 
 class BackendApiConnector(HTTPConnector):
@@ -41,27 +39,6 @@ def _set_url(self) -> None:
         settings = BaseSettings.get()
         self.url = urljoin(str(settings.backend_api_url), self.API_VERSION)
 
-    def post_models(
-        self,
-        extracted_items: list[AnyExtractedModel],
-    ) -> list[AnyExtractedIdentifier]:
-        """Post extracted models to the backend in bulk.
-
-        Args:
-            extracted_items: Extracted models to post
-
-        Raises:
-            HTTPError: If post was not accepted, crashes or times out
-
-        Returns:
-            Identifiers of posted extracted models
-        """
-        # XXX deprecated method, please use `post_extracted_models` instead
-        return cast(
-            list[AnyExtractedIdentifier],
-            self.post_extracted_items(extracted_items).identifiers,
-        )
-
     def post_extracted_items(
         self,
         extracted_items: list[AnyExtractedModel],
@@ -141,7 +118,6 @@ def fetch_merged_items(
         Returns:
             One page of merged items and the total count that was matched
         """
-        # XXX this endpoint will only return faux merged items for now (MX-1382)
         response = self.request(
             method="GET",
             endpoint="merged-item",
@@ -156,12 +132,12 @@ def fetch_merged_items(
 
     def get_merged_item(
         self,
-        stable_target_id: str,
+        identifier: str,
     ) -> AnyMergedModel:
-        """Return one merged item for the given `stableTargetId`.
+        """Return one merged item for the given `identifier`.
 
         Args:
-            stable_target_id: The merged item's identifier
+            identifier: The merged item's identifier
 
         Raises:
             MExError: If no merged item was found
@@ -174,7 +150,7 @@ def get_merged_item(
             method="GET",
             endpoint="merged-item",
             params={
-                "stableTargetId": stable_target_id,
+                "identifier": identifier,
                 "limit": "1",
             },
         )
@@ -201,7 +177,6 @@ def preview_merged_item(
         Returns:
             A single merged item
         """
-        # XXX experimental method until the backend has a preview endpoint (MX-1406)
         response = self.request(
             method="GET",
             endpoint=f"preview-item/{stable_target_id}",
@@ -224,7 +199,6 @@ def get_rule_set(
         Returns:
             A set of three rules
         """
-        # XXX experimental method until the backend has a rule-set endpoint (MX-1416)
         response = self.request(
             method="GET",
             endpoint=f"rule-set/{stable_target_id}",
diff --git a/mex/common/models/access_platform.py b/mex/common/models/access_platform.py
index e068952c..38b0daf8 100644
--- a/mex/common/models/access_platform.py
+++ b/mex/common/models/access_platform.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 from typing import Annotated, ClassVar, Literal
 
-from pydantic import Field, computed_field
+from pydantic import AfterValidator, Field, computed_field
 
 from mex.common.models.base.extracted_data import ExtractedData
 from mex.common.models.base.merged_item import MergedItem
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 from mex.common.types import (
     APIType,
     ExtractedAccessPlatformIdentifier,
+    Identifier,
     Link,
     MergedAccessPlatformIdentifier,
     MergedContactPointIdentifier,
@@ -36,9 +37,12 @@ class _Stem(BaseModel):
 class _OptionalLists(_Stem):
     alternativeTitle: list[Text] = []
     contact: list[
-        MergedOrganizationalUnitIdentifier
-        | MergedPersonIdentifier
-        | MergedContactPointIdentifier
+        Annotated[
+            MergedOrganizationalUnitIdentifier
+            | MergedPersonIdentifier
+            | MergedContactPointIdentifier,
+            AfterValidator(Identifier),
+        ]
     ] = []
     description: list[Text] = []
     landingPage: list[Link] = []
@@ -48,39 +52,23 @@ class _OptionalLists(_Stem):
 
 class _OptionalValues(_Stem):
     endpointDescription: Link | None = None
-    endpointType: (
-        Annotated[APIType, Field(examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/api-type-1"])]
-        | None
-    ) = None
+    endpointType: APIType | None = None
     endpointURL: Link | None = None
 
 
 class _RequiredValues(_Stem):
-    technicalAccessibility: Annotated[
-        TechnicalAccessibility,
-        Field(examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/technical-accessibility-1"]),
-    ]
+    technicalAccessibility: TechnicalAccessibility
 
 
 class _SparseValues(_Stem):
-    technicalAccessibility: Annotated[
-        TechnicalAccessibility | None,
-        Field(examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/technical-accessibility-1"]),
-    ] = None
+    technicalAccessibility: TechnicalAccessibility | None = None
 
 
 class _VariadicValues(_Stem):
     endpointDescription: list[Link]
-    endpointType: list[
-        Annotated[APIType, Field(examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/api-type-1"])]
-    ] = []
+    endpointType: list[APIType] = []
     endpointURL: list[Link] = []
-    technicalAccessibility: list[
-        Annotated[
-            TechnicalAccessibility,
-            Field(examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/technical-accessibility-1"]),
-        ]
-    ] = []
+    technicalAccessibility: list[TechnicalAccessibility] = []
 
 
 class BaseAccessPlatform(_OptionalLists, _OptionalValues, _RequiredValues):
diff --git a/mex/common/models/activity.py b/mex/common/models/activity.py
index 8ed2de24..03e1bd25 100644
--- a/mex/common/models/activity.py
+++ b/mex/common/models/activity.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 from typing import Annotated, ClassVar, Literal
 
-from pydantic import Field, computed_field
+from pydantic import AfterValidator, Field, computed_field
 
 from mex.common.models.base.extracted_data import ExtractedData
 from mex.common.models.base.merged_item import MergedItem
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 from mex.common.types import (
     ActivityType,
     ExtractedActivityIdentifier,
+    Identifier,
     Link,
     MergedActivityIdentifier,
     MergedContactPointIdentifier,
@@ -39,15 +40,16 @@ class _Stem(BaseModel):
 
 class _OptionalLists(_Stem):
     abstract: list[Text] = []
-    activityType: list[
-        Annotated[
-            ActivityType, Field(examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/activity-type-1"])
-        ]
-    ] = []
+    activityType: list[ActivityType] = []
     alternativeTitle: list[Text] = []
     documentation: list[Link] = []
     end: list[YearMonthDay | YearMonth] = []
-    externalAssociate: list[MergedOrganizationIdentifier | MergedPersonIdentifier] = []
+    externalAssociate: list[
+        Annotated[
+            MergedOrganizationIdentifier | MergedPersonIdentifier,
+            AfterValidator(Identifier),
+        ]
+    ] = []
     funderOrCommissioner: list[MergedOrganizationIdentifier] = []
     fundingProgram: list[str] = []
     involvedPerson: list[MergedPersonIdentifier] = []
@@ -57,18 +59,19 @@ class _OptionalLists(_Stem):
     shortName: list[Text] = []
     start: list[YearMonthDay | YearMonth] = []
     succeeds: list[MergedActivityIdentifier] = []
-    theme: list[
-        Annotated[Theme, Field(examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/theme-1"])]
-    ] = []
+    theme: list[Theme] = []
     website: list[Link] = []
 
 
 class _RequiredLists(_Stem):
     contact: Annotated[
         list[
-            MergedOrganizationalUnitIdentifier
-            | MergedPersonIdentifier
-            | MergedContactPointIdentifier,
+            Annotated[
+                MergedOrganizationalUnitIdentifier
+                | MergedPersonIdentifier
+                | MergedContactPointIdentifier,
+                AfterValidator(Identifier),
+            ]
         ],
         Field(min_length=1),
     ]
@@ -80,9 +83,12 @@ class _RequiredLists(_Stem):
 
 class _SparseLists(_Stem):
     contact: list[
-        MergedOrganizationalUnitIdentifier
-        | MergedPersonIdentifier
-        | MergedContactPointIdentifier,
+        Annotated[
+            MergedOrganizationalUnitIdentifier
+            | MergedPersonIdentifier
+            | MergedContactPointIdentifier,
+            AfterValidator(Identifier),
+        ]
     ] = []
     responsibleUnit: list[MergedOrganizationalUnitIdentifier] = []
     title: list[Text] = []
diff --git a/mex/common/models/consent.py b/mex/common/models/consent.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3e62ee0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mex/common/models/consent.py
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# XXX this is a forward-compatibility hint for feature/model-update-v3:
+#     when this gets merged with model v3, remove the
+#     `Annotated[..., Field(examples=["https://mex..."])]` from all enum fields
diff --git a/mex/common/models/distribution.py b/mex/common/models/distribution.py
index 295374e8..16bac711 100644
--- a/mex/common/models/distribution.py
+++ b/mex/common/models/distribution.py
@@ -59,26 +59,13 @@ class _OptionalValues(_Stem):
     accessService: MergedAccessPlatformIdentifier | None = None
     accessURL: Link | None = None
     downloadURL: Link | None = None
-    license: (
-        Annotated[License, Field(examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/license-1"])] | None
-    ) = None
-    mediaType: (
-        Annotated[
-            MIMEType,
-            Field(
-                examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/mime-type-1"],
-            ),
-        ]
-        | None
-    ) = None
+    license: License | None = None
+    mediaType: MIMEType | None = None
     modified: YearMonthDayTime | YearMonthDay | YearMonth | None = None
 
 
 class _RequiredValues(_Stem):
-    accessRestriction: Annotated[
-        AccessRestriction,
-        Field(examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/access-restriction-1"]),
-    ]
+    accessRestriction: AccessRestriction
     issued: YearMonthDayTime | YearMonthDay | YearMonth
     title: Annotated[
         str,
@@ -90,13 +77,7 @@ class _RequiredValues(_Stem):
 
 
 class _SparseValues(_Stem):
-    accessRestriction: (
-        Annotated[
-            AccessRestriction,
-            Field(examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/access-restriction-1"]),
-        ]
-        | None
-    ) = None
+    accessRestriction: AccessRestriction | None = None
     issued: YearMonthDayTime | YearMonthDay | YearMonth | None = None
     title: (
         Annotated[
@@ -111,12 +92,7 @@ class _SparseValues(_Stem):
 
 
 class _VariadicValues(_Stem):
-    accessRestriction: list[
-        Annotated[
-            AccessRestriction,
-            Field(examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/access-restriction-1"]),
-        ]
-    ] = []
+    accessRestriction: list[AccessRestriction] = []
     issued: list[YearMonthDayTime | YearMonthDay | YearMonth] = []
     title: list[
         Annotated[
diff --git a/mex/common/models/primary_source.py b/mex/common/models/primary_source.py
index f96f307c..0cee5692 100644
--- a/mex/common/models/primary_source.py
+++ b/mex/common/models/primary_source.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 from typing import Annotated, ClassVar, Literal
 
-from pydantic import Field, computed_field
+from pydantic import AfterValidator, Field, computed_field
 
 from mex.common.models.base.extracted_data import ExtractedData
 from mex.common.models.base.merged_item import MergedItem
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 )
 from mex.common.types import (
     ExtractedPrimarySourceIdentifier,
+    Identifier,
     Link,
     MergedContactPointIdentifier,
     MergedOrganizationalUnitIdentifier,
@@ -33,9 +34,12 @@ class _Stem(BaseModel):
 class _OptionalLists(_Stem):
     alternativeTitle: list[Text] = []
     contact: list[
-        MergedOrganizationalUnitIdentifier
-        | MergedPersonIdentifier
-        | MergedContactPointIdentifier
+        Annotated[
+            MergedOrganizationalUnitIdentifier
+            | MergedPersonIdentifier
+            | MergedContactPointIdentifier,
+            AfterValidator(Identifier),
+        ]
     ] = []
     description: list[Text] = []
     documentation: list[Link] = []
diff --git a/mex/common/models/resource.py b/mex/common/models/resource.py
index 43df13a6..d7826368 100644
--- a/mex/common/models/resource.py
+++ b/mex/common/models/resource.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 from typing import Annotated, ClassVar, Literal
 
-from pydantic import Field, computed_field
+from pydantic import AfterValidator, Field, computed_field
 
 from mex.common.models.base.extracted_data import ExtractedData
 from mex.common.models.base.merged_item import MergedItem
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
     DataProcessingState,
     ExtractedResourceIdentifier,
     Frequency,
+    Identifier,
     Language,
     License,
     Link,
@@ -47,14 +48,7 @@ class _Stem(BaseModel):
 class _OptionalLists(_Stem):
     accessPlatform: list[MergedAccessPlatformIdentifier] = []
     alternativeTitle: list[Text] = []
-    anonymizationPseudonymization: list[
-        Annotated[
-            AnonymizationPseudonymization,
-            Field(
-                examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/anonymization-pseudonymization-1"]
-            ),
-        ]
-    ] = []
+    anonymizationPseudonymization: list[AnonymizationPseudonymization] = []
     contributingUnit: list[MergedOrganizationalUnitIdentifier] = []
     contributor: list[MergedPersonIdentifier] = []
     creator: list[MergedPersonIdentifier] = []
@@ -66,9 +60,7 @@ class _OptionalLists(_Stem):
     instrumentToolOrApparatus: list[Text] = []
     isPartOf: list[MergedResourceIdentifier] = []
     keyword: list[Text] = []
-    language: list[
-        Annotated[Language, Field(examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/language-1"])]
-    ] = []
+    language: list[Language] = []
     loincId: list[str] = []
     meshId: list[
         Annotated[
@@ -85,40 +77,26 @@ class _OptionalLists(_Stem):
     publication: list[Link] = []
     publisher: list[MergedOrganizationIdentifier] = []
     qualityInformation: list[Text] = []
-    resourceTypeGeneral: list[
-        Annotated[
-            ResourceTypeGeneral,
-            Field(
-                examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/resource-type-general-1"],
-            ),
-        ]
-    ] = []
+    resourceTypeGeneral: list[ResourceTypeGeneral] = []
     resourceTypeSpecific: list[Text] = []
     rights: list[Text] = []
     spatial: list[Text] = []
-    stateOfDataProcessing: list[
-        Annotated[
-            DataProcessingState,
-            Field(
-                examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/data-processing-state-1"],
-            ),
-        ]
-    ] = []
+    stateOfDataProcessing: list[DataProcessingState] = []
 
 
 class _RequiredLists(_Stem):
     contact: Annotated[
         list[
-            MergedOrganizationalUnitIdentifier
-            | MergedPersonIdentifier
-            | MergedContactPointIdentifier
+            Annotated[
+                MergedOrganizationalUnitIdentifier
+                | MergedPersonIdentifier
+                | MergedContactPointIdentifier,
+                AfterValidator(Identifier),
+            ]
         ],
         Field(min_length=1),
     ]
-    theme: Annotated[
-        list[Annotated[Theme, Field(examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/theme-1"])]],
-        Field(min_length=1),
-    ]
+    theme: Annotated[list[Theme], Field(min_length=1)]
     title: Annotated[list[Text], Field(min_length=1)]
     unitInCharge: Annotated[
         list[MergedOrganizationalUnitIdentifier], Field(min_length=1)
@@ -127,26 +105,22 @@ class _RequiredLists(_Stem):
 
 class _SparseLists(_Stem):
     contact: list[
-        MergedOrganizationalUnitIdentifier
-        | MergedPersonIdentifier
-        | MergedContactPointIdentifier
-    ] = []
-    theme: list[
-        Annotated[Theme, Field(examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/theme-1"])]
+        Annotated[
+            MergedOrganizationalUnitIdentifier
+            | MergedPersonIdentifier
+            | MergedContactPointIdentifier,
+            AfterValidator(Identifier),
+        ]
     ] = []
+    theme: list[Theme] = []
     title: list[Text] = []
     unitInCharge: list[MergedOrganizationalUnitIdentifier] = []
 
 
 class _OptionalValues(_Stem):
-    accrualPeriodicity: (
-        Annotated[Frequency, Field(examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/frequency-1"])]
-        | None
-    ) = None
+    accrualPeriodicity: Frequency | None = None
     created: YearMonthDayTime | YearMonthDay | YearMonth | None = None
-    license: (
-        Annotated[License, Field(examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/license-1"])] | None
-    ) = None
+    license: License | None = None
     modified: YearMonthDayTime | YearMonthDay | YearMonth | None = None
     sizeOfDataBasis: str | None = None
     temporal: (
@@ -170,42 +144,18 @@ class _OptionalValues(_Stem):
 
 
 class _RequiredValues(_Stem):
-    accessRestriction: Annotated[
-        AccessRestriction,
-        Field(
-            examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/access-restriction-1"],
-        ),
-    ]
+    accessRestriction: AccessRestriction
 
 
 class _SparseValues(_Stem):
-    accessRestriction: (
-        Annotated[
-            AccessRestriction,
-            Field(
-                examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/access-restriction-1"],
-            ),
-        ]
-        | None
-    ) = None
+    accessRestriction: AccessRestriction | None = None
 
 
 class _VariadicValues(_Stem):
-    accessRestriction: list[
-        Annotated[
-            AccessRestriction,
-            Field(
-                examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/access-restriction-1"],
-            ),
-        ]
-    ] = []
-    accrualPeriodicity: list[
-        Annotated[Frequency, Field(examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/frequency-1"])]
-    ] = []
+    accessRestriction: list[AccessRestriction] = []
+    accrualPeriodicity: list[Frequency] = []
     created: list[YearMonthDayTime | YearMonthDay | YearMonth] = []
-    license: list[
-        Annotated[License, Field(examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/license-1"])]
-    ] = []
+    license: list[License] = []
     modified: list[YearMonthDayTime | YearMonthDay | YearMonth] = []
     sizeOfDataBasis: list[str] = []
     temporal: list[
diff --git a/mex/common/models/variable.py b/mex/common/models/variable.py
index 9e511edb..bd35ffb6 100644
--- a/mex/common/models/variable.py
+++ b/mex/common/models/variable.py
@@ -86,15 +86,7 @@ class _OptionalValues(_Stem):
         ]
         | None
     ) = None
-    dataType: (
-        Annotated[
-            DataType,
-            Field(
-                examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/data-type-1"],
-            ),
-        ]
-        | None
-    ) = None
+    dataType: DataType | None = None
 
 
 class _VariadicValues(_Stem):
@@ -106,14 +98,7 @@ class _VariadicValues(_Stem):
             ),
         ]
     ] = []
-    dataType: list[
-        Annotated[
-            DataType,
-            Field(
-                examples=["https://mex.rki.de/item/data-type-1"],
-            ),
-        ]
-    ] = []
+    dataType: list[DataType] = []
 
 
 class BaseVariable(_OptionalLists, _RequiredLists, _OptionalValues):
diff --git a/mex/common/types/__init__.py b/mex/common/types/__init__.py
index 8df713b9..6465a4e9 100644
--- a/mex/common/types/__init__.py
+++ b/mex/common/types/__init__.py
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 from typing import Final, Literal, get_args
 
-from mex.common.types.email import Email
+from mex.common.types.email import EMAIL_PATTERN, Email
 from mex.common.types.identifier import (
-    MEX_ID_PATTERN,
+    IDENTIFIER_PATTERN,
     ExtractedAccessPlatformIdentifier,
     ExtractedActivityIdentifier,
     ExtractedContactPointIdentifier,
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 )
 from mex.common.types.text import Text, TextLanguage
 from mex.common.types.vocabulary import (
+    VOCABULARY_PATTERN,
     AccessRestriction,
     ActivityType,
     AnonymizationPseudonymization,
@@ -77,6 +78,7 @@
     "CET",
     "DataProcessingState",
     "DataType",
+    "EMAIL_PATTERN",
     "Email",
     "EXTRACTED_IDENTIFIER_CLASSES_BY_NAME",
     "EXTRACTED_IDENTIFIER_CLASSES",
@@ -93,6 +95,7 @@
     "ExtractedVariableGroupIdentifier",
     "ExtractedVariableIdentifier",
     "Frequency",
+    "IDENTIFIER_PATTERN",
     "Identifier",
     "IdentityProvider",
     "Language",
@@ -114,7 +117,6 @@
     "MergedResourceIdentifier",
     "MergedVariableGroupIdentifier",
     "MergedVariableIdentifier",
-    "MEX_ID_PATTERN",
     "MIMEType",
     "NESTED_MODEL_CLASSES_BY_NAME",
     "NESTED_MODEL_CLASSES",
@@ -130,7 +132,9 @@
     "Text",
     "TextLanguage",
     "Theme",
+    "URL_PATTERN",
     "UTC",
+    "VOCABULARY_PATTERN",
     "VocabularyEnum",
     "VocabularyLoader",
     "WorkPath",
diff --git a/mex/common/types/email.py b/mex/common/types/email.py
index 89942581..3a98df1b 100644
--- a/mex/common/types/email.py
+++ b/mex/common/types/email.py
@@ -14,7 +14,13 @@ def __get_pydantic_core_schema__(
         cls, source_type: Any, handler: GetCoreSchemaHandler
     ) -> core_schema.CoreSchema:
         """Modify the core schema to add the email regex."""
-        return core_schema.str_schema(pattern=EMAIL_PATTERN)
+        return core_schema.chain_schema(
+            [
+                core_schema.str_schema(pattern=EMAIL_PATTERN),
+                core_schema.no_info_plain_validator_function(cls),
+            ],
+            serialization=core_schema.to_string_ser_schema(when_used="unless-none"),
+        )
 
     @classmethod
     def __get_pydantic_json_schema__(
@@ -26,3 +32,7 @@ def __get_pydantic_json_schema__(
         json_schema_["format"] = "email"
         json_schema_["examples"] = ["info@rki.de"]
         return json_schema_
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        """Overwrite the default representation."""
+        return f'{self.__class__.__name__}("{self}")'
diff --git a/mex/common/types/identifier.py b/mex/common/types/identifier.py
index 2b6eb9b2..c2537dee 100644
--- a/mex/common/types/identifier.py
+++ b/mex/common/types/identifier.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import re
 import string
 from typing import Any, Self
 from uuid import UUID, uuid4
@@ -6,9 +5,8 @@
 from pydantic import GetCoreSchemaHandler, GetJsonSchemaHandler, json_schema
 from pydantic_core import core_schema
 
-MEX_ID_ALPHABET = string.ascii_letters + string.digits
-MEX_ID_PATTERN = r"^[a-zA-Z0-9]{14,22}$"
-UUID_PATTERN = r"^[0-9a-f]{8}-[0-9a-f]{4}-[0-9a-f]{4}-[0-9a-f]{4}-[0-9a-f]{12}$"
+_ALPHABET = string.ascii_letters + string.digits
+IDENTIFIER_PATTERN = r"^[a-zA-Z0-9]{14,22}$"
 
 
 class Identifier(str):
@@ -19,35 +17,27 @@ def generate(cls, seed: int | None = None) -> Self:
         """Generate a new identifier from a seed or random UUID version 4."""
         # Inspired by https://pypi.org/project/shortuuid
         output = ""
-        alpha_len = len(MEX_ID_ALPHABET)
+        alpha_len = len(_ALPHABET)
         if seed is None:
             number = uuid4().int
         else:
             number = UUID(int=seed, version=4).int
         while number:
             number, digit = divmod(number, alpha_len)
-            output += MEX_ID_ALPHABET[digit]
+            output += _ALPHABET[digit]
         return cls(output[::-1])
 
-    @classmethod
-    def validate(cls, value: Any) -> Self:
-        """Validate a string, UUID or Identifier."""
-        if isinstance(value, str | UUID | Identifier):
-            value = str(value)
-            if re.match(MEX_ID_PATTERN, value):
-                return cls(value)
-            if re.match(UUID_PATTERN, value):
-                return cls.generate(seed=UUID(value).int)
-            raise ValueError(f"Invalid identifier format: {value}")
-        raise ValueError(f"Cannot parse {type(value)} as {cls.__name__}")
-
     @classmethod
     def __get_pydantic_core_schema__(
         cls, source_type: Any, handler: GetCoreSchemaHandler
     ) -> core_schema.CoreSchema:
         """Modify the core schema to add the ID regex."""
-        return core_schema.no_info_before_validator_function(
-            cls.validate, core_schema.str_schema(pattern=MEX_ID_PATTERN)
+        return core_schema.chain_schema(
+            [
+                core_schema.str_schema(pattern=IDENTIFIER_PATTERN),
+                core_schema.no_info_plain_validator_function(cls),
+            ],
+            serialization=core_schema.to_string_ser_schema(when_used="unless-none"),
         )
 
     @classmethod
@@ -58,11 +48,12 @@ def __get_pydantic_json_schema__(
         json_schema_ = handler(core_schema_)
         json_schema_ = handler.resolve_ref_schema(json_schema_)
         json_schema_["title"] = cls.__name__
+        json_schema_["pattern"] = IDENTIFIER_PATTERN
         return json_schema_
 
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
         """Overwrite the default representation."""
-        return f"{self.__class__.__name__}({super().__str__().__repr__()})"
+        return f'{self.__class__.__name__}("{self}")'
 
 
 # We have technically-identical subclasses of identifier types (one per entity-type).
diff --git a/mex/common/types/link.py b/mex/common/types/link.py
index a29ff7cf..7ed49d54 100644
--- a/mex/common/types/link.py
+++ b/mex/common/types/link.py
@@ -1,25 +1,9 @@
-import re
 from enum import StrEnum
 from typing import Annotated, Any
 
 from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, model_validator
 
-# https://daringfireball.net/projects/markdown/syntax#backslash
-MARKDOWN_SPECIAL_CHARS = r"\`*_{}[]()#+-.!"
-
-
-def markdown_escape(string: str) -> str:
-    """Escape all special characters for markdown usage."""
-    for char in MARKDOWN_SPECIAL_CHARS:
-        string = string.replace(char, f"\\{char}")
-    return string
-
-
-def markdown_unescape(string: str) -> str:
-    """Unescape all special characters from a markdown string."""
-    for char in MARKDOWN_SPECIAL_CHARS:
-        string = string.replace(f"\\{char}", char)
-    return string
+URL_PATTERN = r"^(([^:/?#]+):)?(//([^/?#]*))?([^?#]*)(\?([^#]*))?(#(.*))?"
 
 
 class LinkLanguage(StrEnum):
@@ -32,10 +16,10 @@ class LinkLanguage(StrEnum):
 class Link(BaseModel):
     """Type class for Link objects.
 
-    Links can be parsed from nested JSON objects or from markdown strings.
+    Links can be parsed from nested JSON objects or from raw strings.
 
     Example:
-        Link(url="https://foo", title="Title") == Link.model_validate("[Title](https://foo)")
+        Link(url="http://foo.bar") == Link.model_validate("http://foo.bar")
     """
 
     language: LinkLanguage | None = None
@@ -43,7 +27,7 @@ class Link(BaseModel):
     url: Annotated[
         str,
         Field(
-            pattern=r"^(([^:/?#]+):)?(//([^/?#]*))?([^?#]*)(\\?([^#]*))?(#(.*))?",
+            pattern=URL_PATTERN,
             min_length=1,
             examples=["https://hello-world.org", "file://S:/OE/MF4/Projekte/MEx"],
             json_schema_extra={"format": "uri"},
@@ -52,23 +36,14 @@ class Link(BaseModel):
 
     @model_validator(mode="before")
     @classmethod
-    def convert_markdown_to_link(cls, values: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    def validate_strings(cls, value: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
         """Convert string input to dictionary."""
-        if isinstance(values, dict):
-            return values
-        if isinstance(values, str):
-            if match := re.match(r"\[(?P<title>.*)\]\((?P<url>.*)\)", values):
-                return {
-                    key: markdown_unescape(value)
-                    for key, value in match.groupdict().items()
-                }
-            return {"url": values}
-        raise ValueError(f"Allowed input types are dict and str, got {type(values)}")
-
-    def __str__(self) -> str:
-        """Render the link as markdown if a title is set, otherwise as plain url."""
-        if title := self.title:
-            title = markdown_escape(title)
-            url = markdown_escape(self.url)
-            return f"[{title}]({url})"
-        return self.url
+        if isinstance(value, str):
+            return {"url": value}
+        if isinstance(value, dict):
+            return value
+        raise ValueError(f"Allowed input types are dict and str, got {type(value)}")
+
+    def __hash__(self) -> int:
+        """Return the hash of this link."""
+        return hash((self.url, self.title, self.language))
diff --git a/mex/common/types/path.py b/mex/common/types/path.py
index 7cc78925..6a1539d1 100644
--- a/mex/common/types/path.py
+++ b/mex/common/types/path.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from os import PathLike
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Any, Self, Union
+from typing import Any, Union
 
 from pydantic import GetCoreSchemaHandler
 from pydantic_core import core_schema
@@ -19,6 +19,19 @@ def __init__(self, path: Union[str, Path, "PathWrapper"]) -> None:
             path = path._path
         self._path = path
 
+    @classmethod
+    def __get_pydantic_core_schema__(
+        cls, source_type: Any, handler: GetCoreSchemaHandler
+    ) -> core_schema.CoreSchema:
+        """Modify the core schema to add validation and serialization rules."""
+        return core_schema.chain_schema(
+            [
+                core_schema.is_instance_schema(str | Path | PathWrapper),
+                core_schema.no_info_plain_validator_function(cls),
+            ],
+            serialization=core_schema.to_string_ser_schema(when_used="unless-none"),
+        )
+
     def __fspath__(self) -> str:
         """Return the file system path representation."""
         return self._path.__fspath__()
@@ -49,37 +62,6 @@ def is_relative(self) -> bool:
         """True if the underlying path is relative."""
         return not self._path.is_absolute()
 
-    @classmethod
-    def __get_pydantic_core_schema__(
-        cls, source_type: Any, handler: GetCoreSchemaHandler
-    ) -> core_schema.CoreSchema:
-        """Set schema to str schema."""
-        from_str_schema = core_schema.chain_schema(
-            [
-                core_schema.str_schema(),
-                core_schema.no_info_plain_validator_function(
-                    cls.validate,
-                ),
-            ]
-        )
-        from_anything_schema = core_schema.chain_schema(
-            [
-                core_schema.no_info_plain_validator_function(cls.validate),
-                core_schema.is_instance_schema(PathWrapper),
-            ]
-        )
-        return core_schema.json_or_python_schema(
-            json_schema=from_str_schema,
-            python_schema=from_anything_schema,
-        )
-
-    @classmethod
-    def validate(cls, value: Any) -> Self:
-        """Convert a string value to a Text instance."""
-        if isinstance(value, str | Path | PathWrapper):
-            return cls(value)
-        raise ValueError(f"Cannot parse {type(value)} as {cls.__name__}")
-
 
 class AssetsPath(PathWrapper):
     """Custom path for settings that can be absolute or relative to `assets_dir`."""
diff --git a/mex/common/types/temporal_entity.py b/mex/common/types/temporal_entity.py
index 48f8c8df..3f591db0 100644
--- a/mex/common/types/temporal_entity.py
+++ b/mex/common/types/temporal_entity.py
@@ -193,27 +193,20 @@ def __get_pydantic_core_schema__(
         cls, source_type: Any, handler: GetCoreSchemaHandler
     ) -> core_schema.CoreSchema:
         """Modify the core schema to add validation and serialization rules."""
-        from_str_schema = core_schema.chain_schema(
-            [
-                core_schema.str_schema(pattern=cls.STR_SCHEMA_PATTERN),
-                core_schema.no_info_plain_validator_function(
-                    cls.validate,
-                ),
-            ]
-        )
-        from_anything_schema = core_schema.chain_schema(
-            [
-                core_schema.no_info_plain_validator_function(cls.validate),
-                core_schema.is_instance_schema(cls),
-            ]
-        )
-        serialization_schema = core_schema.plain_serializer_function_ser_schema(
-            lambda instance: str(instance)
-        )
         return core_schema.json_or_python_schema(
-            json_schema=from_str_schema,
-            python_schema=from_anything_schema,
-            serialization=serialization_schema,
+            json_schema=core_schema.chain_schema(
+                [
+                    core_schema.str_schema(pattern=cls.STR_SCHEMA_PATTERN),
+                    core_schema.no_info_plain_validator_function(cls),
+                ]
+            ),
+            python_schema=core_schema.chain_schema(
+                [
+                    core_schema.is_instance_schema(cls | date | str | TemporalEntity),
+                    core_schema.no_info_plain_validator_function(cls),
+                ]
+            ),
+            serialization=core_schema.to_string_ser_schema(when_used="unless-none"),
         )
 
     @classmethod
@@ -221,17 +214,10 @@ def __get_pydantic_json_schema__(
         cls, core_schema_: core_schema.CoreSchema, handler: GetJsonSchemaHandler
     ) -> json_schema.JsonSchemaValue:
         """Modify the json schema to add a title, examples and an optional format."""
-        json_schema = handler(core_schema_)
-        json_schema["title"] = cls.__name__
-        json_schema.update(cls.JSON_SCHEMA_CONFIG)
-        return json_schema
-
-    @classmethod
-    def validate(cls, value: Any) -> "TemporalEntity":
-        """Parse any value and try to convert it into a temporal entity."""
-        if isinstance(value, cls | date | str | TemporalEntity):
-            return cls(value)
-        raise TypeError(f"Cannot parse {type(value)} as {cls.__name__}")
+        json_schema_ = handler(core_schema_)
+        json_schema_["title"] = cls.__name__
+        json_schema_.update(cls.JSON_SCHEMA_CONFIG)
+        return json_schema_
 
     @staticmethod
     def _parse_integers(
@@ -283,23 +269,24 @@ def _parse_date(
         """Parse a date and assume the precision is days."""
         return datetime(value.year, value.month, value.day), TemporalEntityPrecision.DAY
 
-    def __eq__(self, other: object) -> bool:
+    def __eq__(self, other: Any) -> bool:
         """Return whether the given other value is the same as this one."""
         try:
-            other = self.validate(other)
+            other_temporal = TemporalEntity(other)
         except TypeError:
             return False
         return bool(
-            self.date_time == other.date_time and self.precision == other.precision
+            self.date_time == other_temporal.date_time
+            and self.precision == other_temporal.precision
         )
 
     def __gt__(self, other: Any) -> bool:
         """Return whether the given other value is the greater than this one."""
         try:
-            other = self.validate(other)
+            other_temporal = TemporalEntity(other)
         except TypeError:
             raise NotImplementedError from None
-        return bool(self.date_time > other.date_time)
+        return bool(self.date_time > other_temporal.date_time)
 
     def __str__(self) -> str:
         """Render temporal entity with format fitting for its precision."""
@@ -308,7 +295,7 @@ def __str__(self) -> str:
         )
 
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
-        """Render a presentation showing this is not just a datetime."""
+        """Overwrite the default representation."""
         return f'{self.__class__.__name__}("{self}")'
 
 
diff --git a/mex/common/types/text.py b/mex/common/types/text.py
index 2f406fb8..14f55f8f 100644
--- a/mex/common/types/text.py
+++ b/mex/common/types/text.py
@@ -54,10 +54,6 @@ def validate_strings(cls, value: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
             return value
         raise ValueError(f"Allowed input types are dict and str, got {type(value)}")
 
-    def __str__(self) -> str:
-        """Return the text value."""
-        return self.value
-
     def __hash__(self) -> int:
         """Return the hash of Text."""
         return hash((self.value, self.language))
diff --git a/mex/common/types/vocabulary.py b/mex/common/types/vocabulary.py
index f17b06f5..1426dcad 100644
--- a/mex/common/types/vocabulary.py
+++ b/mex/common/types/vocabulary.py
@@ -5,7 +5,14 @@
 from importlib.resources import files
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, ClassVar, Self, Union
 
-from pydantic import AnyUrl, BaseModel
+from pydantic import (
+    AnyUrl,
+    BaseModel,
+    GetCoreSchemaHandler,
+    GetJsonSchemaHandler,
+    json_schema,
+)
+from pydantic_core import core_schema
 
 from mex.common.utils import normalize
 
@@ -15,6 +22,7 @@
     from mex.common.types import Text
 
 MODEL_VOCABULARIES = files("mex.model.vocabularies")
+VOCABULARY_PATTERN = r"https://mex.rki.de/item/[a-z0-9-]+"
 
 
 class BilingualText(BaseModel):
@@ -71,10 +79,6 @@ class VocabularyEnum(Enum, metaclass=VocabularyLoader):
     __vocabulary__: ClassVar[str]
     __concepts__: ClassVar[list[Concept]]
 
-    def __repr__(self) -> str:
-        """Overwrite representation because dynamic enum names are unknown to mypy."""
-        return f'{self.__class__.__name__}["{self.name}"]'
-
     @classmethod
     def find(cls, search_term: Union[str, "Text"]) -> Self | None:
         """Get the enum instance that matches a label of the underlying concepts.
@@ -99,12 +103,50 @@ def find(cls, search_term: Union[str, "Text"]) -> Self | None:
                     continue
                 if language is None:
                     searchable_labels.extend([normalize(label.de), normalize(label.en)])
-                elif language_label := label.dict().get(language.value):
+                elif language_label := label.model_dump().get(language.value):
                     searchable_labels.append(normalize(language_label))
             if search_term in searchable_labels:
                 return cls(str(concept.identifier))
         return None
 
+    @classmethod
+    def __get_pydantic_core_schema__(
+        cls, source_type: object, handler: GetCoreSchemaHandler
+    ) -> core_schema.CoreSchema:
+        """Modify the core schema to add the vocabulary regex."""
+        return core_schema.json_or_python_schema(
+            json_schema=core_schema.union_schema(
+                [
+                    core_schema.str_schema(pattern=VOCABULARY_PATTERN),
+                    core_schema.no_info_plain_validator_function(cls),
+                ],
+            ),
+            python_schema=core_schema.chain_schema(
+                [
+                    core_schema.is_instance_schema(cls | str),
+                    core_schema.no_info_plain_validator_function(cls),
+                ]
+            ),
+            serialization=core_schema.plain_serializer_function_ser_schema(
+                lambda s: s.value,
+                when_used="unless-none",
+            ),
+        )
+
+    @classmethod
+    def __get_pydantic_json_schema__(
+        cls, core_schema_: core_schema.CoreSchema, handler: GetJsonSchemaHandler
+    ) -> json_schema.JsonSchemaValue:
+        """Modify the json schema to add the scheme and an example."""
+        json_schema_ = handler(core_schema_)
+        json_schema_["examples"] = [f"https://mex.rki.de/item/{cls.__vocabulary__}-1"]
+        json_schema_["useScheme"] = f"https://mex.rki.de/item/{cls.__vocabulary__}"
+        return json_schema_
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        """Overwrite representation because dynamic enum names are unknown to mypy."""
+        return f'{self.__class__.__name__}["{self.name}"]'
+
 
 class AccessRestriction(VocabularyEnum):
     """The access restriction type."""
diff --git a/tests/backend_api/test_connector.py b/tests/backend_api/test_connector.py
index a2de406d..083c0f38 100644
--- a/tests/backend_api/test_connector.py
+++ b/tests/backend_api/test_connector.py
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ def test_get_merged_item_mocked(
         "GET",
         "http://localhost:8080/v0/merged-item",
         {
-            "stableTargetId": "NGwfzG8ROsrvIiQIVDVy",
+            "identifier": "NGwfzG8ROsrvIiQIVDVy",
             "limit": "1",
         },
         headers={
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ def test_get_merged_item_error_mocked(mocked_backend: MagicMock) -> None:
         "GET",
         "http://localhost:8080/v0/merged-item",
         {
-            "stableTargetId": "NGwfzG8ROsrvIiQIVDVy",
+            "identifier": "NGwfzG8ROsrvIiQIVDVy",
             "limit": "1",
         },
         headers={
diff --git a/tests/models/test_model_schemas.py b/tests/models/test_model_schemas.py
index 5e31b283..c828485c 100644
--- a/tests/models/test_model_schemas.py
+++ b/tests/models/test_model_schemas.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 from mex.common.models import EXTRACTED_MODEL_CLASSES, BaseModel
 from mex.common.transform import dromedary_to_kebab
-from mex.common.types.identifier import MEX_ID_PATTERN
+from mex.common.types import IDENTIFIER_PATTERN, VOCABULARY_PATTERN
 
 MEX_MODEL_ENTITIES = files("mex.model.entities")
 
@@ -137,13 +137,11 @@ def prepare_field(field: str, obj: list[Any] | dict[str, Any]) -> None:
 
     # pop annotations that we don't compare directly but use for other comparisons
     title = obj.pop("title", "")  # only in model (autogenerated by pydantic)
-    use_scheme = obj.pop("useScheme", "")  # only in spec (needed to select vocabulary)
-    vocabulary = use_scheme.removeprefix("https://mex.rki.de/item/")  # vocabulary name
 
     # align reference paths
     # (the paths to referenced vocabularies and types differ between the models
     # and the specification, so we need to make sure they match before comparing)
-    if obj.get("pattern") == MEX_ID_PATTERN:
+    if obj.get("pattern") == IDENTIFIER_PATTERN:
         obj.pop("pattern")
         obj.pop("type")
         if field in ("identifier", "stableTargetId"):
@@ -156,9 +154,10 @@ def prepare_field(field: str, obj: list[Any] | dict[str, Any]) -> None:
             )
 
     # align concept/enum annotations
-    # (spec uses `useScheme` to specify vocabularies and models use enums)
     if obj.get("$ref") == "/schema/entities/concept#/identifier":
-        obj["$ref"] = f"/schema/fields/{vocabulary}"
+        obj["pattern"] = VOCABULARY_PATTERN
+        obj["type"] = "string"
+        obj.pop("$ref")
 
     # make sure all refs have paths in kebab-case
     # (the models use the class names, whereas the spec uses kebab-case URLs)
diff --git a/tests/test_settings.py b/tests/test_settings.py
index 64680fdc..2a4d375e 100644
--- a/tests/test_settings.py
+++ b/tests/test_settings.py
@@ -88,13 +88,8 @@ class DummySettings(BaseSettings):
         sub_model=SubModel(sub_model_path=relative),
     )
 
-    settings_dict = settings.model_dump()
-    assert settings_dict["non_path"] == "blablabla"
-    assert settings_dict["abs_work_path"] == absolute
-    assert settings_dict["rel_work_path"] == WorkPath(settings.work_dir / relative)
-    assert settings_dict["assets_path"] == AssetsPath(
-        absolute / "assets_dir" / relative
-    )
-    assert settings_dict["sub_model"]["sub_model_path"] == WorkPath(
-        settings.work_dir / relative
-    )
+    assert settings.non_path == "blablabla"
+    assert settings.abs_work_path == absolute
+    assert settings.rel_work_path == WorkPath(settings.work_dir / relative)
+    assert settings.assets_path == AssetsPath(absolute / "assets_dir" / relative)
+    assert settings.sub_model.sub_model_path == WorkPath(settings.work_dir / relative)
diff --git a/tests/types/test_data/dummy-vocabulary.json b/tests/types/test_data/dummy-vocabulary.json
index 4852a481..fd503d2d 100644
--- a/tests/types/test_data/dummy-vocabulary.json
+++ b/tests/types/test_data/dummy-vocabulary.json
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@
             "de": "desc-de-one",
             "en": "desc-en-one"
         },
-        "identifier": "https://dummy/concept-one",
-        "inScheme": "https://dummy/concept",
+        "identifier": "https://mex.rki.de/item/dummy-concept-1",
+        "inScheme": "https://mex.rki.de/item/dummy-concept",
         "prefLabel": {
             "de": "pref-de-one",
             "en": "pref-en-one"
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@
     },
     {
         "definition": null,
-        "identifier": "https://dummy/concept-two",
-        "inScheme": "https://dummy/concept",
+        "identifier": "https://mex.rki.de/item/dummy-concept-2",
+        "inScheme": "https://mex.rki.de/item/dummy-concept",
         "prefLabel": {
             "de": "pref-de-two",
             "en": "pref-en-two"
diff --git a/tests/types/test_email.py b/tests/types/test_email.py
index a18eb7a4..56485bbd 100644
--- a/tests/types/test_email.py
+++ b/tests/types/test_email.py
@@ -1,16 +1,53 @@
 import pytest
 from pydantic import BaseModel, ValidationError
 
-from mex.common.types import Email
+from mex.common.types import EMAIL_PATTERN, Email
 
 
 class DummyModel(BaseModel):
     email: Email
 
 
-def test_email() -> None:
+def test_email_validation() -> None:
     model = DummyModel.model_validate({"email": "wasd@def.ghi"})
-    assert model.email == "wasd@def.ghi"
+    assert model.email == Email("wasd@def.ghi")
+
+    model = DummyModel.model_validate({"email": Email("wasd@def.ghi")})
+    assert model.email == Email("wasd@def.ghi")
+
+    model = DummyModel(email=Email("wasd@def.ghi"))
+    assert model.email == Email("wasd@def.ghi")
 
     with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
         DummyModel.model_validate({"email": "foobar"})
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
+        DummyModel.model_validate({"email": object()})
+
+
+def test_email_serialization() -> None:
+    model = DummyModel.model_validate({"email": "wasd@def.ghi"})
+    raw = model.model_dump()
+
+    assert raw == {"email": "wasd@def.ghi"}
+
+
+def test_email_schema() -> None:
+    assert DummyModel.model_json_schema() == {
+        "properties": {
+            "email": {
+                "examples": ["info@rki.de"],
+                "format": "email",
+                "pattern": EMAIL_PATTERN,
+                "title": "Email",
+                "type": "string",
+            }
+        },
+        "required": ["email"],
+        "title": "DummyModel",
+        "type": "object",
+    }
+
+
+def test_email_repr() -> None:
+    assert repr(Email("wasd@def.ghi")) == 'Email("wasd@def.ghi")'
diff --git a/tests/types/test_identifier.py b/tests/types/test_identifier.py
index 1f350b4e..7b6dcbe0 100644
--- a/tests/types/test_identifier.py
+++ b/tests/types/test_identifier.py
@@ -4,59 +4,58 @@
 from pydantic import BaseModel, ValidationError
 from pytest import MonkeyPatch
 
-from mex.common.types import Identifier
+from mex.common.types import IDENTIFIER_PATTERN, Identifier
 
 
-class DummyID(Identifier):
+class DummyIdentifier(Identifier):
     pass
 
 
 class DummyModel(BaseModel):
-    id: Identifier
-    dummy: DummyID | None = None
+    id: DummyIdentifier
 
 
-def test_identifier_validates() -> None:
-    model_with_obj = DummyModel.model_validate({"id": Identifier("bFQoRhcVH5DIfZ")})
-    model_with_raw = DummyModel.model_validate({"id": "bFQoRhcVH5DIfZ"})
-    model_with_raw_uuid = DummyModel.model_validate(
-        {"id": "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000539"}
-    )
-    model_with_uuid_obj = DummyModel.model_validate({"id": UUID(int=1337, version=4)})
-
-    assert (
-        model_with_obj.id
-        == model_with_raw.id
-        == model_with_raw_uuid.id
-        == model_with_uuid_obj.id
-        == Identifier.generate(seed=1337)
-    )
+def test_identifier_validation() -> None:
+    model = DummyModel.model_validate({"id": "bFQoRhcVH5DIfZ"})
+    assert model.id == DummyIdentifier("bFQoRhcVH5DIfZ")
+
+    model = DummyModel.model_validate({"id": DummyIdentifier("bFQoRhcVH5DIfZ")})
+    assert model.id == DummyIdentifier("bFQoRhcVH5DIfZ")
+
+    model = DummyModel(id=DummyIdentifier("bFQoRhcVH5DIfZ"))
+    assert model.id == DummyIdentifier("bFQoRhcVH5DIfZ")
 
     with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
         DummyModel.model_validate({"id": "baaiaaaboi!!!"})
 
     with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
-        DummyModel.model_validate({"id": 42})
+        DummyModel.model_validate({"id": object()})
 
 
-def test_identifier_modifies_schema() -> None:
-    assert DummyModel.model_json_schema()["properties"]["id"] == {
-        "title": "Identifier",
-        "type": "string",
-        "pattern": r"^[a-zA-Z0-9]{14,22}$",
-    }
-    assert DummyModel.model_json_schema()["properties"]["dummy"] == {
-        "anyOf": [
-            {"pattern": "^[a-zA-Z0-9]{14,22}$", "title": "DummyID", "type": "string"},
-            {"type": "null"},
-        ],
-        "default": None,
-        "title": "Dummy",
+def test_identifier_serialization() -> None:
+    model = DummyModel(id=DummyIdentifier("bFQoRhcVH5DIfZ"))
+    raw = model.model_dump()
+
+    assert raw == {"id": "bFQoRhcVH5DIfZ"}
+
+
+def test_identifier_schema() -> None:
+    assert DummyModel.model_json_schema() == {
+        "properties": {
+            "id": {
+                "pattern": IDENTIFIER_PATTERN,
+                "title": "DummyIdentifier",
+                "type": "string",
+            }
+        },
+        "required": ["id"],
+        "title": "DummyModel",
+        "type": "object",
     }
 
 
 def test_identifier_repr() -> None:
-    assert repr(Identifier("baaiaaaaaaaboi")) == "Identifier('baaiaaaaaaaboi')"
+    assert repr(Identifier("baaiaaaaaaaboi")) == 'Identifier("baaiaaaaaaaboi")'
 
 
 def test_identifier_generate(monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/types/test_link.py b/tests/types/test_link.py
index 8e96d5c5..000c2866 100644
--- a/tests/types/test_link.py
+++ b/tests/types/test_link.py
@@ -1,56 +1,38 @@
-from pydantic import BaseModel
+import pytest
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ValidationError
 
 from mex.common.types import Link, LinkLanguage
 
 
-def test_parsing_from_string() -> None:
-    class DummyModel(BaseModel):
-        link: Link
+class DummyModel(BaseModel):
+    link: Link
 
-    # plain link
-    model = DummyModel.model_validate({"link": "https://example.com"})
-    assert model.model_dump(exclude_none=True) == {
-        "link": {"url": "https://example.com"}
-    }
 
-    # link with title
-    model = DummyModel.model_validate({"link": "[Example](https://example.com)"})
-    assert model.model_dump(exclude_none=True) == {
-        "link": {"url": "https://example.com", "title": "Example"}
-    }
+def test_link_validation() -> None:
+    with pytest.raises(ValidationError, match="Allowed input types are dict and str"):
+        _ = DummyModel.model_validate({"link": 1})
 
-    # link with funky characters
-    model = DummyModel.model_validate(
-        {"link": r"[\[TEST\] Example](https://example.com/test?q=\(\.\*\))"}
-    )
-    assert model.model_dump(exclude_none=True) == {
-        "link": {"url": "https://example.com/test?q=(.*)", "title": "[TEST] Example"}
+    model = DummyModel.model_validate({"link": "https://example.com"})
+    assert model.model_dump() == {
+        "link": {
+            "language": None,
+            "title": None,
+            "url": "https://example.com",
+        }
     }
 
-    # nested model
     model = DummyModel.model_validate(
         {"link": {"url": "https://example.com", "title": "Example", "language": "en"}}
     )
-    assert model.model_dump(exclude_none=True) == {
+    assert model.model_dump() == {
         "link": {
-            "url": "https://example.com",
-            "title": "Example",
             "language": LinkLanguage.EN,
+            "title": "Example",
+            "url": "https://example.com",
         }
     }
 
 
-def test_rendering_as_string() -> None:
-    # plain link
-    link = Link.model_validate({"url": "https://example.com"})
-    assert str(link) == "https://example.com"
-
-    # link with title
-    link = Link.model_validate({"url": "https://example.com", "title": "Example"})
-    assert str(link) == r"[Example](https://example\.com)"
-
-    # link with funky characters
-    link = Link.model_validate(
-        {"url": "https://example.com/test?q=(.*)", "title": "[TEST] Example"}
-    )
-    assert str(link) == r"[\[TEST\] Example](https://example\.com/test?q=\(\.\*\))"
+def test_link_hash() -> None:
+    link = Link(url="https://foo.bar", title="Hallo Welt.", language=LinkLanguage.DE)
+    assert hash(link) == hash(("https://foo.bar", "Hallo Welt.", LinkLanguage.DE))
diff --git a/tests/types/test_temporal_entity.py b/tests/types/test_temporal_entity.py
index 3f3f18be..53d7dd42 100644
--- a/tests/types/test_temporal_entity.py
+++ b/tests/types/test_temporal_entity.py
@@ -103,15 +103,6 @@ def test_temporal_entity_value_errors(
         cls(*args, **kwargs)
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize(
-    ("value", "message"),
-    [(object(), "Cannot parse <class 'object'> as TemporalEntity")],
-)
-def test_temporal_entity_validation_errors(value: Any, message: str) -> None:
-    with pytest.raises(TypeError, match=message):
-        TemporalEntity.validate(value)
-
-
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     ("cls", "args", "kwargs", "expected"),
     [
@@ -271,10 +262,31 @@ def test_temporal_entity_repr() -> None:
     )
 
 
-def test_temporal_entity_serialization() -> None:
-    class Person(BaseModel):
-        birthday: YearMonthDay
+class DummyModel(BaseModel):
+    birthday: YearMonthDay
 
-    person = Person.model_validate({"birthday": "24th July 1999"})
+
+def test_temporal_entity_schema() -> None:
+    assert DummyModel.model_json_schema() == {
+        "properties": {
+            "birthday": {
+                "examples": ["2014-08-24"],
+                "format": "date",
+                "pattern": "^\\d{4}-(0[1-9]|1[0-2])-(0[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01])$",
+                "title": "YearMonthDay",
+                "type": "string",
+            }
+        },
+        "required": ["birthday"],
+        "title": "DummyModel",
+        "type": "object",
+    }
+
+
+DummyModel.model_json_schema()
+
+
+def test_temporal_entity_serialization() -> None:
+    person = DummyModel.model_validate({"birthday": "24th July 1999"})
 
     assert person.model_dump_json() == '{"birthday":"1999-07-24"}'
diff --git a/tests/types/test_text.py b/tests/types/test_text.py
index 494814f1..f9f686d6 100644
--- a/tests/types/test_text.py
+++ b/tests/types/test_text.py
@@ -33,23 +33,27 @@ def test_text_language_detect() -> None:
     assert none_text.language is None
 
 
-def test_parsing_from_string() -> None:
-    class DummyModel(BaseModel):
-        text: Text
+class DummyModel(BaseModel):
+    text: Text
+
+
+def test_text_validation() -> None:
+    with pytest.raises(ValidationError, match="Allowed input types are dict and str"):
+        _ = DummyModel.model_validate({"text": 1})
 
     model = DummyModel.model_validate({"text": "we are parsing a string here"})
     assert model.model_dump() == {
         "text": {"value": "we are parsing a string here", "language": TextLanguage.EN}
     }
 
-    with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
-        _ = DummyModel.model_validate({"text": 1})
-
     model = DummyModel.model_validate(
-        {"text": {"value": "and here, we parsing an object"}}
+        {"text": {"value": "and here, we are parsing an object"}}
     )
     assert model.model_dump() == {
-        "text": {"value": "and here, we parsing an object", "language": TextLanguage.EN}
+        "text": {
+            "value": "and here, we are parsing an object",
+            "language": TextLanguage.EN,
+        }
     }
 
     model = DummyModel.model_validate(
@@ -68,11 +72,6 @@ class DummyModel(BaseModel):
     }
 
 
-def test_text_str() -> None:
-    text = Text(value="Hello world.")
-    assert str(text) == "Hello world."
-
-
 def test_text_hash() -> None:
     text = Text(value="Hallo Welt.", language=TextLanguage.DE)
     assert hash(text) == hash(("Hallo Welt.", TextLanguage.DE))
diff --git a/tests/types/test_vocabulary.py b/tests/types/test_vocabulary.py
index 52805e0d..1e2d0d40 100644
--- a/tests/types/test_vocabulary.py
+++ b/tests/types/test_vocabulary.py
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ class DummyEnum(VocabularyEnum):
 
     # check enum values are loaded correctly
     assert [c.value for c in DummyEnum] == [
-        "https://dummy/concept-one",
-        "https://dummy/concept-two",
+        "https://mex.rki.de/item/dummy-concept-1",
+        "https://mex.rki.de/item/dummy-concept-2",
     ]
 
     # check enum instance representation
@@ -51,13 +51,41 @@ class DummyModel(BaseModel):
 
     # check wrong value raises error
     with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
-        DummyModel.model_validate({"dummy": "https://dummy/not-a-valid-concept"})
+        DummyModel.model_validate(
+            {"dummy": "https://mex.rki.de/item/not-a-valid-concept"}
+        )
 
     # check parsing from string works
-    model = DummyModel.model_validate({"dummy": "https://dummy/concept-two"})
+    model = DummyModel.model_validate(
+        {"dummy": "https://mex.rki.de/item/dummy-concept-2"}
+    )
     assert model.dummy == DummyEnum["PREF_EN_TWO"]
 
 
+@pytest.mark.usefixtures("use_dummy_vocabulary")
+def test_vocabulary_enum_schema() -> None:
+    class DummyEnum(VocabularyEnum):
+        __vocabulary__ = "dummy-vocabulary"
+
+    class DummyModel(BaseModel):
+        dummy: DummyEnum
+
+    assert DummyModel.model_json_schema() == {
+        "properties": {
+            "dummy": {
+                "examples": ["https://mex.rki.de/item/dummy-vocabulary-1"],
+                "pattern": "https://mex.rki.de/item/[a-z0-9-]+",
+                "title": "Dummy",
+                "type": "string",
+                "useScheme": "https://mex.rki.de/item/dummy-vocabulary",
+            }
+        },
+        "required": ["dummy"],
+        "title": "DummyModel",
+        "type": "object",
+    }
+
+
 @pytest.mark.usefixtures("use_dummy_vocabulary")
 def test_vocabulary_enum_find() -> None:
     class DummyEnum(VocabularyEnum):
@@ -68,4 +96,4 @@ class DummyEnum(VocabularyEnum):
 
     found_enum = DummyEnum.find("pref-de-one")
     assert found_enum is not None
-    assert found_enum.value == "https://dummy/concept-one"
+    assert found_enum.value == "https://mex.rki.de/item/dummy-concept-1"