What is RDF (resource description framework)?

RDF (Resource Description Framework) is an open Web data representation standard. A semantic data model allows data to be organized, exchanged, and linked on the Web. It is often used with Semantic Web technologies such as OWL (Web Ontology Language) and SKOS (Simple Knowledge Organization System).

RDF represents an information network of entities and relationships between them in a machine-readable format. This makes it an invaluable tool in knowledge representation, as it provides a standardized way of representing facts, concepts, and relationships.

At its core, RDF is a triple-based data model composed of subject-predicate-object triples. These triples are represented using urls within the RDF spec. RDF also has a predicate vocabulary defining the relationship between subjects and objects (such as 'part-of,' 'createdBy,' 'hasAncestor,' etc.). As a result, RDF enables the creation of robust semantic networks which can be used to represent complex real-world domains.

RDF is also used to query data on the Web. Using RDF-based query languages such as SPARQL (SPARQL Protocol and RDF Query Language), data can be accessed from linked open data sources on the Web. This makes RDF invaluable for research and knowledge discovery.

The usefulness of RDF continues, however. In addition to enabling the representation of data and queries, RDF is also used for data integration. Using standard RDF vocabularies, the same data can be integrated from different data sources across the Web. This makes it possible to create unified views of data from different sources.

RDF provides a powerful and flexible model for representing data on the Web. Its ability to connect disparate data sources and its use as a query language makes it a valuable asset for research, knowledge discovery, data integration, and more.