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diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_asset_representation.hh b/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_asset_representation.hh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..edaa5a203ba
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+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_asset_representation.hh
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later */
+
+/** \file
+ * \ingroup bke
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <memory>
+#include <string>
+
+#include "BLI_string_ref.hh"
+
+struct AssetMetaData;
+struct ID;
+
+namespace blender::bke {
+
+/**
+ * \brief Abstraction to reference an asset, with necessary data for display & interaction.
+ *
+ * https://wiki.blender.org/wiki/Source/Architecture/Asset_System/Back_End#Asset_Representation
+ */
+class AssetRepresentation {
+  friend struct AssetLibrary;
+
+  struct ExternalAsset {
+    std::string name;
+    std::unique_ptr<AssetMetaData> metadata_ = nullptr;
+  };
+
+  /** Indicate if this is a local or external asset, and as such, which of the union members below
+   * should be used. */
+  const bool is_local_id_ = false;
+
+  union {
+    ExternalAsset external_asset_;
+    ID *local_asset_id_ = nullptr; /* Non-owning. */
+  };
+
+ public:
+  /** Constructs an asset representation for an external ID. The asset will not be editable. */
+  explicit AssetRepresentation(StringRef name, std::unique_ptr<AssetMetaData> metadata);
+  /** Constructs an asset representation for an ID stored in the current file. This makes the asset
+   * local and fully editable. */
+  explicit AssetRepresentation(ID &id);
+  AssetRepresentation(AssetRepresentation &&other);
+  /* Non-copyable type. */
+  AssetRepresentation(const AssetRepresentation &other) = delete;
+  ~AssetRepresentation();
+
+  /* Non-move-assignable type. Move construction is fine, but treat the "identity" (e.g. local vs
+   * external asset) of an asset representation as immutable. */
+  AssetRepresentation &operator=(AssetRepresentation &&other) = delete;
+  /* Non-copyable type. */
+  AssetRepresentation &operator=(const AssetRepresentation &other) = delete;
+
+  StringRefNull get_name() const;
+  AssetMetaData &get_metadata() const;
+  /** Returns if this asset is stored inside this current file, and as such fully editable. */
+  bool is_local_id() const;
+};
+
+}  // namespace blender::bke