Resource Description Framework (RDF)
The Resource Description Framework (RDF) is a standard for data exchange and the format for Linked Data (LD). RDF represents information in a series of three-part “statements” called a triple that comprise a subject, predicate, and an object in the form: <subject><predicate><object>. In this way, RDF describes data by defining relationships between data objects. RDF also allows for the use of Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs) so that data can be uniquely identified and linked together: multiple triples, and triples from multiple sources, can all point to the same URI to encode that they are all referring to the same entity or concept. This shared use of authorities is part of what makes the “linked” part of LD possible. RDF data (triples) are stored in a triplestore and can be queried using SPARQL.
Examples
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Lincoln (2015) “Using SPARQL to access Linked Open Data”: The following example shows how you would represent the concept that Rembrandt van Rijn created The Nightwatch, following RDF.
<Rembrandt van Rijn><created><The Nightwatch> . -
Lincoln (2015) “Using SPARQL to access Linked Open Data”: The following example shows how you would represent the concept that Rembrandt van Rijn created The Nightwatch, following RDF using URIs.
<http://vocab.getty.edu/page/ulan/500011051> <http://purl.org/dc/terms/creator>
<http://data.rijksmuseum.nl/item/8909812347> .
Further Resources
- Fullstack Academy (2017) “RDF Tutorial—An Introduction to the Resource Description Framework” [Video]
- Resource Description Framework (Wikipedia)
- W3C (2014) RDF 1.1 Primer