Definition — how data is described

Semantics

8 open standards for Semantics in a modern data architecture, each with an opinionated judgement: Adopt, Situational, Assess, or Caution.

Nothing here is a safe default yet.

Situational 5 standards

The right answer in some contexts but not others. Pick deliberately based on the constraint.

  • RDF/OWL — Resource Description Framework / Web Ontology Language

    Semantic-web foundation; right when reasoning/inference matter.

    W3C

  • DCAT — Data Catalog Vocabulary

    Mandatory in EU open-data and many regulatory contexts.

    W3C

  • SKOS — Simple Knowledge Organization System

    Right when you actually have a taxonomy.

    W3C

  • SHACL — Shapes Constraint Language

    Validate RDF; only when you already speak RDF.

    W3C

  • JSON-LD — JSON for Linking Data

    Pragmatic semantic-web on-ramp inside ordinary JSON.

    W3C

Assess 3 standards

Promising but not yet proven for production-default use. Track it and prototype, but don't commit your architecture.

  • OSI — Open Semantic Interchange

    Emerging vendor-neutral semantic exchange; promising, adoption early.

    OSI Initiative — Snowflake, Salesforce, dbt Labs, BlackRock, Databricks, Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), and many more

  • schema.org — schema.org vocabulary

    Web SEO/structured-data vocabulary; different audience from data-platform work.

    schema.org Community Group / W3C

  • ShEx — Shape Expressions Language

    RDF shape validation parallel to SHACL; smaller community.

    W3C Shape Expressions Community Group

More in Definition

Definition covers how data is described.

See Semantics in context

These standards are one panel of the interactive Data Landscape, which maps every open standard a modern data architecture is built on. The underlying data is a single JSON file; disagree with a judgement? Open an issue.