The attribute gml:id supports provision of a handle for the XML element representing a GML Object. Its use is mandatory for all GML objects. It is of XML type ID, so is constrained to be unique in the XML document within which it occurs.
Source
<element name="TimeInstant" type="gml:TimeInstantType" substitutionGroup="gml:AbstractTimeGeometricPrimitive"><annotation><documentation>gml:TimeInstant acts as a zero-dimensional geometric primitive that represents an identifiable position in time.</documentation></annotation></element>