In this article, we give an abstract characterization of the ``identity of an operator space $V$ by looking at a quantity $n_{cb}(V,u)$ which is defined in analogue to a well-known quantity in Banach space theory. More precisely, we show that there e
xists a complete isometry from $V$ to some $mathcal{L}(H)$ sending $u$ to ${rm id}_H$ if and only if $n_{cb}(V,u) =1$. We will use it to give an abstract characterization of operator systems. Moreover, we will show that if $V$ is a unital operator space and $W$ is a proper complete $M$-ideal, then $V/W$ is also a unital operator space. As a consequece, the quotient of an operator system by a proper complete $M$-ideal is again an operator system. In the appendix, we will also give an abstract characterisation of ``non-unital operator systems using an idea arose from the definition of $n_{cb}(V,u)$.
