aid: rdf
name: RDF Vocabulary
description: >-
  Normative vocabulary for the Resource Description Framework (RDF) as defined
  by the W3C RDF Working Group. Covers the RDF data model, serialization formats,
  related standards (RDFS, OWL, SPARQL, JSON-LD), and implementation concepts.
  Aligned with RDF 1.1 (W3C Recommendation) and the emerging RDF 1.2 specification.
created: '2026-05-02'
modified: '2026-05-02'

terms:

  - term: Triple
    label: RDF Triple
    definition: >-
      The atomic data unit in RDF, consisting of a subject, predicate, and object.
      A triple makes a statement about a resource. Also called an RDF statement.
    tags:
      - Core Data Model
      - RDF 1.1
      - RDF 1.2

  - term: Subject
    label: Subject
    definition: >-
      The first component of an RDF triple — the resource being described.
      The subject MUST be an IRI or a blank node.
    tags:
      - Core Data Model
      - RDF 1.1

  - term: Predicate
    label: Predicate
    definition: >-
      The second component of an RDF triple — the property or relationship
      between the subject and object. The predicate MUST be an IRI.
    tags:
      - Core Data Model
      - RDF 1.1

  - term: Object
    label: Object
    definition: >-
      The third component of an RDF triple — the value or resource that the
      subject is related to. The object can be an IRI, a blank node, or a
      literal value.
    tags:
      - Core Data Model
      - RDF 1.1

  - term: IRI
    label: Internationalized Resource Identifier
    definition: >-
      A generalization of URI that allows non-ASCII characters. IRIs are used
      as identifiers for subjects, predicates, and object references in RDF.
      Defined in RFC 3987.
    tags:
      - Identification
      - RDF 1.1

  - term: BlankNode
    label: Blank Node
    definition: >-
      An anonymous node in an RDF graph that does not have a global IRI
      identifier. Blank nodes can appear in the subject or object position
      of a triple and are identified within a document by a local identifier.
    tags:
      - Core Data Model
      - RDF 1.1

  - term: Literal
    label: RDF Literal
    definition: >-
      A typed or language-tagged value used in the object position of an RDF
      triple. A literal has a lexical form, an optional language tag (for
      rdf:langString), and an optional datatype IRI.
    tags:
      - Core Data Model
      - RDF 1.1

  - term: NamedGraph
    label: Named Graph
    definition: >-
      An RDF graph associated with an IRI name within an RDF dataset. Named
      graphs allow organizing triples into distinct contexts and are the basis
      for the RDF dataset model.
    tags:
      - Core Data Model
      - RDF 1.1

  - term: Dataset
    label: RDF Dataset
    definition: >-
      A collection of RDF graphs comprising a default graph and zero or more
      named graphs. Datasets are the top-level container for RDF data.
    tags:
      - Core Data Model
      - RDF 1.1

  - term: Serialization
    label: RDF Serialization Format
    definition: >-
      A concrete syntax for encoding RDF graphs or datasets as text. Standard
      serialization formats include Turtle, N-Triples, N-Quads, RDF/XML,
      JSON-LD, and TriG.
    tags:
      - Serialization
      - RDF 1.1

  - term: Turtle
    label: Turtle
    definition: >-
      A compact, human-readable RDF serialization syntax. Turtle uses
      prefix declarations to abbreviate IRI namespaces and is widely used
      for RDF authoring. Defined in W3C Recommendation REC-turtle.
    tags:
      - Serialization
      - RDF 1.1

  - term: JSONLD
    label: JSON-LD
    definition: >-
      A JSON-based serialization for Linked Data that maps JSON documents
      to RDF using a @context. JSON-LD 1.1 is a W3C Recommendation and
      is the primary bridge between RDF and JSON ecosystems.
    tags:
      - Serialization
      - JSON
      - Linked Data

  - term: SPARQL
    label: SPARQL
    definition: >-
      SPARQL Protocol and RDF Query Language — the W3C-standardized query
      language for RDF data. SPARQL 1.1 (2013) supports SELECT, CONSTRUCT,
      ASK, and DESCRIBE query forms. SPARQL 1.2 is in development alongside RDF 1.2.
    tags:
      - Query Language
      - W3C Standard

  - term: RDFS
    label: RDF Schema
    definition: >-
      An RDF vocabulary (http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#) that provides
      basic class and property hierarchies, domain/range constraints, and
      labels/comments. RDFS is the foundation for OWL.
    tags:
      - Schema Language
      - W3C Standard

  - term: OWL
    label: Web Ontology Language
    definition: >-
      A W3C-standardized ontology language built on RDF and RDFS that provides
      richer vocabulary for class expressions, property characteristics, and
      logical inference. OWL 2 is the current W3C Recommendation.
    tags:
      - Ontology
      - W3C Standard
      - Semantic Web

  - term: LinkedData
    label: Linked Data
    definition: >-
      A set of best practices for publishing and connecting structured data on
      the Web using HTTP URIs, RDF, and SPARQL. Coined by Tim Berners-Lee.
    tags:
      - Semantic Web
      - Open Data

  - term: TripleTerm
    label: Triple Term
    definition: >-
      A new feature introduced in RDF 1.2 that allows an RDF triple itself to
      be used as a term in the object position of another triple, enabling
      direct reification and statements about statements.
    tags:
      - RDF 1.2
      - Advanced Feature

  - term: Reification
    label: RDF Reification
    definition: >-
      The practice of making statements about RDF triples. In RDF 1.1, reification
      requires four triples using rdf:Statement, rdf:subject, rdf:predicate,
      and rdf:object. RDF 1.2 introduces triple terms to simplify this.
    tags:
      - Advanced Feature
      - RDF 1.1
      - RDF 1.2