What is RDF and what is it good for? Last revised January 2008 This is an introduction to RDF (“Resource Description
Framework”), which is the standard for encoding metadata and other knowledge on
the Semantic Web. In the Semantic Web, computer applications make use of
structured information spread in a distributed and decentralized way throughout
the current web. RDF is an abstract model, a way to break down knowledge
into discrete pieces, and while it is most popularly known for its RDF/XML
syntax, RDF can be stored in a variety of formats. This article discusses
the abstract RDF model, two concrete serialization formats, how RDF is used
and how it differs from plain XML, higher-level RDF semantics, best practices
for deployment, and querying RDF data sources.
Begin Reading: Section-by-Section
or One-Long-Page
Table of Contents: - Why we need a new standard for the Semantic Web
- Introducing RDF
- Triples of knowledge
- Reading and Writing RDF
- Distributed Information
- Comparing RDF with XML
- RDF about RDF
- Linked Data for the Web
- Querying Semantic Web Databases
- Closing Remarks
This document was originally written in October 2005.
In July 2006 it was revised and extended with material
from my xml.com
article "What is RDF". In January 2008 it was revised
with more on N3 and RDF/XML and extended with the new sections Linked Data for the Web and
Querying Semantic Web Databases | 