Glossary
Mapping A set of rules describing how information in one format or model corresponds to that in another. It results in a translation of data structures (establishing relationships between data structures of different models), while keeping the meaning or semantics of the data intact, even if transformation of the data is required. However, mapping, transforming and converting are sometimes used interchangeably — the differences are only in technical scope (broadest to narrowest).
Transformation The process of not just translating data from one structure to another, but also manipulating that data to fit the new structure or purpose, such as in the case of mapping between orthogonal data models (for example, conforming to an ontology). However, mapping, transforming and converting are sometimes used interchangeably — the differences are only in technical scope (broadest to narrowest).
Converting The act of changing one data format into another, for example, XML to PDF, or WAV to MP3, which can involve some level of transformation of data structures or mapping between different data representation models. However, mapping, transforming and converting are sometimes used interchangeably — the differences are only in technical scope (broadest to narrowest).
RDF Resource Description Framework - A standard graph data model for
machine-readable knowledge representation, prescribing a declarative computer
data markup language (with different notations or serializations like
RDF/XML and Turtle) for describing things and their relationships in simple
three-element <subject, predicate, object> tuples, that can be used to
establish a set of statements or facts, i.e. a knowledge graph.
SPARQL A declarative computer database query language specifically designed for RDF databases or triplestores, allowing one to ask questions about the information stored in RDF graphs, analogue to what SQL is to traditional relational database management systems (RDBMS).
OWL Web Ontology Language - A declarative computer data modeling language specifically designed for creating and expressing ontologies, built on top of the RDF-Schema knowledge representation standard. It provides a richer vocabulary and more powerful logical constructs for defining complex relationships and constraints, enabling logical reasoning and inference of instance data (deriving new facts from existing ones).
Ontology A formalism for describing a domain of knowledge. It defines the concepts, their properties, and the relationships between them, not unlike a blueprint that specifies what things exist in a specific area and how they are connected. Ontologies can be expressed in the RDF or OWL language and be used to lend well-defined meaning, or semantics, to data in and reason about (infer facts from) knowledge graphs.
Knowledge Graph A network of information where nodes represent entities (like people, places, or things) and edges represent the relationships between them, forming a graph of knowledge (data as statements or facts), that can be expressed in RDF and be backed by one or more ontologies for shared understanding, reasoning and inference.
RML RDF Mapping Language - An RDF-based declarative computer programming language for mapping data from various (semi-)structured sources to RDF and constructing knowledge graphs.
Mapping Suite A set of RML mapping rules for XML-RDF conversion, along with related artefacts. Interchangeable with mapping package.
Mapping Package A set of RML mapping rules for XML-RDF conversion, along with related artefacts. Interchangeable with mapping suite.
CELLAR The central content and metadata repository of the Publications Office of the European Union, exposed via a SPARQL endpoint.
TED-SWS A pipeline system that continuously converts public procurement notices (in XML format) on the TED website into RDF format and publishes them into CELLAR