Introduction to RDF Ken Varnum 9 October 2007
Definition of RDF The Resource Description Framework (RDF) is a general-purpose language for representing information in the Web. RDF Vocabulary Description Language 1.0: RDF Schema Significant Part of “Semantic Web” XML-based tool for describing resources
What’s It Good For? “… [D] oes not specify a vocabulary of descriptive properties such as "author". Instead it specifies mechanisms that may be used to name and describe properties and the classes of resource they describe.” Used to describe Source of ontology What is being described Description Not an Ontology
Concept of “Triples” Subject - Predicate - Object Something Has the Property Characteristic Properties are defined -- in human- or machine-readable format -- at a given URI.
Example Michigan has the postal abbreviation MI MI has the postal abbreviation Michigan Object Predicate Subject
Convert to RDF -- Step 1 First do the XML thing -- declare name spaces <rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf=http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns# xmlns:terms=&quot;http://purl.org/dc/terms/&quot;> </rdf:RDF> Two name spaces rdf (defined by W3C) terms (defined by Dublin Core)
Convert to RDF -- Step 2 Add Subject <rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf=http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns# xmlns:terms=&quot;http://purl.org/dc/terms/&quot;> <rdf:Description rdf:about=&quot;urn:x-states:Michigan&quot;> </rdf:Description> </rdf:RDF> Use “Description” from the RDF namespace Definition found at RDF “x-states” site
Convert to RDF -- Step 3 Add Object <rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf=http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns# xmlns:terms=&quot;http://purl.org/dc/terms/&quot;> <rdf:Description rdf:about=&quot;urn:x-states:Michigan&quot;> <terms:alternative>MI</terms:alternative> </rdf:Description> </rdf:RDF> Use “alternative” from the terms namespace Definition found at Dublin Core site DC only defines purpose of “alternative” in a machine-readable way
Where Is It? A “flavor” of RSS RDF RSS Atom Underlies data exchange As a rule, systems generate it, not people
Foundation of “Semantic Web” “ What is meant by ‘semantic’ in Semantic Web is not that computers are going to understand the meaning of anything, but that the logical pieces of meaning can be mechanically manipulated by a machine to useful human ends.” “ What Is RDF” by Joshua Tauberer
Sources / Further Reading Wikipedia entry on RDF (overview) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resource_Description_Framework RDF Specification (technical) http://www.w3.org/RDF/ What Is RDF (overview) http://www.xml.com/lpt/a/1665

Rdf Overview Presentation

  • 1.
    Introduction to RDFKen Varnum 9 October 2007
  • 2.
    Definition of RDFThe Resource Description Framework (RDF) is a general-purpose language for representing information in the Web. RDF Vocabulary Description Language 1.0: RDF Schema Significant Part of “Semantic Web” XML-based tool for describing resources
  • 3.
    What’s It GoodFor? “… [D] oes not specify a vocabulary of descriptive properties such as &quot;author&quot;. Instead it specifies mechanisms that may be used to name and describe properties and the classes of resource they describe.” Used to describe Source of ontology What is being described Description Not an Ontology
  • 4.
    Concept of “Triples”Subject - Predicate - Object Something Has the Property Characteristic Properties are defined -- in human- or machine-readable format -- at a given URI.
  • 5.
    Example Michigan hasthe postal abbreviation MI MI has the postal abbreviation Michigan Object Predicate Subject
  • 6.
    Convert to RDF-- Step 1 First do the XML thing -- declare name spaces <rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf=http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns# xmlns:terms=&quot;http://purl.org/dc/terms/&quot;> </rdf:RDF> Two name spaces rdf (defined by W3C) terms (defined by Dublin Core)
  • 7.
    Convert to RDF-- Step 2 Add Subject <rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf=http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns# xmlns:terms=&quot;http://purl.org/dc/terms/&quot;> <rdf:Description rdf:about=&quot;urn:x-states:Michigan&quot;> </rdf:Description> </rdf:RDF> Use “Description” from the RDF namespace Definition found at RDF “x-states” site
  • 8.
    Convert to RDF-- Step 3 Add Object <rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf=http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns# xmlns:terms=&quot;http://purl.org/dc/terms/&quot;> <rdf:Description rdf:about=&quot;urn:x-states:Michigan&quot;> <terms:alternative>MI</terms:alternative> </rdf:Description> </rdf:RDF> Use “alternative” from the terms namespace Definition found at Dublin Core site DC only defines purpose of “alternative” in a machine-readable way
  • 9.
    Where Is It?A “flavor” of RSS RDF RSS Atom Underlies data exchange As a rule, systems generate it, not people
  • 10.
    Foundation of “SemanticWeb” “ What is meant by ‘semantic’ in Semantic Web is not that computers are going to understand the meaning of anything, but that the logical pieces of meaning can be mechanically manipulated by a machine to useful human ends.” “ What Is RDF” by Joshua Tauberer
  • 11.
    Sources / FurtherReading Wikipedia entry on RDF (overview) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resource_Description_Framework RDF Specification (technical) http://www.w3.org/RDF/ What Is RDF (overview) http://www.xml.com/lpt/a/1665