Hyperdata
Encyclopedia
Hyperdata indicates data objects linked to other data objects in other places, as hypertext
indicates text linked to other text in other places. Hyperdata enables formation of a web of data, evolving from the "data on the Web" that is not inter-related (or at least, not linked).
In the same way that hypertext usually refers to the World Wide Web
but is a broader term, hyperdata usually refers to the Semantic Web
, but may also be applied more broadly to other data-linking technologies such as Microformats
- including XHTML Friends Network
.
A hypertext link simply indicates that a link exists between two documents or "information resources." Hyperdata links go beyond the simple fact of such connection, and express semantics about the kind of connection being made. For instance, in a document about Hillary Clinton, a hypertext link might be made from the word senator to a document about the United States Senate. In contrast, a hyperdata link from the same word to the same document might also state that Senator is one of Hillary's roles, titles, or positions (depending on the ontology
being used to define this link).
"), a place ("Champ de Mars
" where the Eiffel Tower stands), a person (Gustave Eiffel
, the man responsible for the tower's construction), or other "non-information resources". It is worth noting that the links in this article are hypertext, not hyperdata, and they all lead to documents which describe the entities named.
A Hyperdata Browser (also called a Semantic Web browser
), is a browser used to navigate the Semantic Web
. Semantic Web
architecture
does not necessarily involve the HTML
document format, which typical HTML
Web browsers rely upon. A Hyperdata Browser specifically requests RDF
data from Web servers, often through content negotiation
or "conneg" starting from the same URL as the traditional Web browser; the Web server may immediately return the requested RDF, or it may deliver a redirection to a new URI where the RDF may actually be found, or the RDF may be embedded in the same HTML document which would be returned to a Web browser which did not request RDF. The RDF data will generally describe the resource
represented by the originally requested URI
. The Hyperdata browser then renders the information received as an HTML
page that contains hyperlinks for users to navigate to indicated resources.
Hypertext
Hypertext is text displayed on a computer or other electronic device with references to other text that the reader can immediately access, usually by a mouse click or keypress sequence. Apart from running text, hypertext may contain tables, images and other presentational devices. Hypertext is the...
indicates text linked to other text in other places. Hyperdata enables formation of a web of data, evolving from the "data on the Web" that is not inter-related (or at least, not linked).
In the same way that hypertext usually refers to the World Wide Web
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
but is a broader term, hyperdata usually refers to the Semantic Web
Semantic Web
The Semantic Web is a collaborative movement led by the World Wide Web Consortium that promotes common formats for data on the World Wide Web. By encouraging the inclusion of semantic content in web pages, the Semantic Web aims at converting the current web of unstructured documents into a "web of...
, but may also be applied more broadly to other data-linking technologies such as Microformats
Microformats
A microformat is a web-based approach to semantic markup which seeks to re-use existing HTML/XHTML tags to convey metadata and other attributes in web pages and other contexts that support HTML, such as RSS...
- including XHTML Friends Network
XHTML Friends Network
XHTML Friends Network is an HTML microformat developed by Global Multimedia Protocols Group that provides a simple way to represent human relationships using links. XFN enables web authors to indicate relationships to the people in their blogrolls by adding one or more keywords as the rel...
.
A hypertext link simply indicates that a link exists between two documents or "information resources." Hyperdata links go beyond the simple fact of such connection, and express semantics about the kind of connection being made. For instance, in a document about Hillary Clinton, a hypertext link might be made from the word senator to a document about the United States Senate. In contrast, a hyperdata link from the same word to the same document might also state that Senator is one of Hillary's roles, titles, or positions (depending on the ontology
Ontology
Ontology is the philosophical study of the nature of being, existence or reality as such, as well as the basic categories of being and their relations...
being used to define this link).
Semantic Web
The Semantic Web introduces the controversial concept of links to non-data Resources. In the Semantic Web, links are not limited to "information resources" or documents, such as the typical Web page. Hyperdata links may refer to a physical structure (e.g., "the Eiffel TowerEiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...
"), a place ("Champ de Mars
Champ de Mars
The Champ de Mars is a large public greenspace in Paris, France, located in the seventh arrondissement, between the Eiffel Tower to the northwest and the École Militaire to the southeast. The park is named after the Campus Martius in Rome, a tribute to the Roman god of war...
" where the Eiffel Tower stands), a person (Gustave Eiffel
Gustave Eiffel
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel was a French structural engineer from the École Centrale Paris, an architect, an entrepreneur and a specialist of metallic structures...
, the man responsible for the tower's construction), or other "non-information resources". It is worth noting that the links in this article are hypertext, not hyperdata, and they all lead to documents which describe the entities named.
A Hyperdata Browser (also called a Semantic Web browser
Web browser
A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content...
), is a browser used to navigate the Semantic Web
Semantic Web
The Semantic Web is a collaborative movement led by the World Wide Web Consortium that promotes common formats for data on the World Wide Web. By encouraging the inclusion of semantic content in web pages, the Semantic Web aims at converting the current web of unstructured documents into a "web of...
. Semantic Web
Semantic Web
The Semantic Web is a collaborative movement led by the World Wide Web Consortium that promotes common formats for data on the World Wide Web. By encouraging the inclusion of semantic content in web pages, the Semantic Web aims at converting the current web of unstructured documents into a "web of...
architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
does not necessarily involve the HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
document format, which typical HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
Web browsers rely upon. A Hyperdata Browser specifically requests RDF
Resource Description Framework
The Resource Description Framework is a family of World Wide Web Consortium specifications originally designed as a metadata data model...
data from Web servers, often through content negotiation
Content negotiation
Content negotiation is a mechanism defined in the HTTP specification that makes it possible to serve different versions of a document at the same URI, so that user agents can specify which version fit their capabilities the best...
or "conneg" starting from the same URL as the traditional Web browser; the Web server may immediately return the requested RDF, or it may deliver a redirection to a new URI where the RDF may actually be found, or the RDF may be embedded in the same HTML document which would be returned to a Web browser which did not request RDF. The RDF data will generally describe the resource
Resource
A resource is a source or supply from which benefit is produced, typically of limited availability.Resource may also refer to:* Resource , substances or objects required by a biological organism for normal maintenance, growth, and reproduction...
represented by the originally requested URI
Úri
Úriis a village and commune in the comitatus of Pest in Hungary....
. The Hyperdata browser then renders the information received as an HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
page that contains hyperlinks for users to navigate to indicated resources.
See also
- Data WebData WebData Web refers to a government open source project that was started in 1995 to develop open source framework that networks distributed statistical databases together into a seamless unified virtual data warehouse.Originally funded by the U.S...
- Dereferenceable URIs
- Web ResourceResource (Web)The concept of resource is primitive in the Web architecture, and is used in the definition of its fundamental elements. The term was first introduced to refer to targets of Uniform Resource Locators , but its definition has been further extended to include the referent of any Uniform Resource...
- Linked DataLinked DataIn computing, linked data describes a method of publishing structured data so that it can be interlinked and become more useful. It builds upon standard Web technologies such as HTTP and URIs, but rather than using them to serve web pages for human readers, it extends them to share information in a...
- Omni functional Web
- Semantic WebSemantic WebThe Semantic Web is a collaborative movement led by the World Wide Web Consortium that promotes common formats for data on the World Wide Web. By encouraging the inclusion of semantic content in web pages, the Semantic Web aims at converting the current web of unstructured documents into a "web of...
- Web services