Described herein is a system and method for using object references as a data type. In response to a request for an object reference for an object by a consuming application, the object reference is generated by a source application. The object reference comprises a data structure comprising an activation uniform resource identifier for activating the referenced object, information for visually representing the object reference, and, optionally, metadata that describes the referenced object. The generated object reference is provided to an operating system component by the source application which provides the object reference to a consuming application. The consuming application can display information regard the object reference in accordance with the information for visually representing the object reference included in the object reference. The user can request reactivation of the object referenced by the object reference.