What type of characteristic refers to elements that are unique to an individual piece of evidence?

The type of characteristic that refers to elements unique to an individual piece of evidence is known as individual characteristics. These characteristics can typically be traced back to a single source or origin and help in establishing a connection to a specific individual or item.

For example, in forensic science, individual characteristics might include unique markings on a tool that can be matched to a specific weapon or the unique patterns found in fingerprints. These traits are crucial for identification purposes because they provide definitive proof linking evidence directly to a suspect or an object involved in a particular investigation.

In contrast, general characteristics describe attributes that can be shared among multiple items or groups, class characteristics refer to traits that are common to a group or category but are not unique to a single item, and non-specific characteristics do not provide enough detail to make an individual identification. Thus, individual characteristics are essential in forensic evidence as they allow for precise identification unique to a single source.