Candidate Recommendation Snapshot: RDF 1.2 Concepts and Abstract Data Model (Call for Wide Review)

RDF 1.2 Concepts and Abstract Data Model

https://www.w3.org/TR/2026/CR-rdf12-concepts-20260407/

feedback due by: May 5, 2026

Published by
 RDF & SPARQL Working Group

Abstract

The Resource Description Framework (RDF) is a framework for representing information on the Web. This document defines an abstract data model which serves to link all RDF-based languages and specifications. The abstract data model has two key data structures: 
 
  * RDF graphs are sets of subject-predicate-object triples, where the elements may be IRIs, blank nodes, datatyped literals, or triple terms. They are used to express descriptions of resources. 
  * RDF datasets are used to organize collections of RDF graphs, and consist of a default graph and zero or more named graphs.  

Compared to RDF 1.1, RDF 1.2 introduces the ability to use an RDF triple as a triple term, in the object position of another triple. RDF 1.2 also introduces directional language-tagged strings, which contain a base direction component that allows the initial text direction to be specified for presentation by a user agent. Finally, to ease the transition from RDF 1.1 to RDF 1.2, this specification introduces a mechanism for explicitly conveying the version of RDF that is used by a given piece of data. 

This specification introduces key concepts and terminology for RDF 1.2, and subsequently discusses datatyping and the handling of fragment identifiers in IRIs within RDF graphs.

Status of the Document

This section describes the status of this document at the time of its publication. A list of current W3C publications and the latest revision of this technical report can be found in the W3C standards and drafts index. 

This document is part of the RDF 1.2 document suite. It is the central RDF 1.2 specification and defines the core RDF concepts. Test suites and implementation reports of a number of RDF 1.2 specifications that build on this document are available from the rdf-tests repository under rdf-tests/rdf/rdf12 as referenced in each of the specifications. 

RDF 1.2 Concepts (this specification) describes an abstract data model, and does not have an independant test suite, as it is not directly implemented in software. Instead, it is implemented by the specifications which build on top of it. As a consequence, to exit the W3C Candidate Recommendation phase, the W3C RDF & SPARQL Working Group requires that [RDF12-SEMANTICS] and at least one specification for a concrete syntax (e.g. [RDF12-N-TRIPLES]) have met their own exit criteria for the W3C Candidate Recommendation phase. 

RDF 1.2 Concepts is an update to [RDF11-CONCEPTS], which was itself, an update to [RDF-CONCEPTS-20040210]. 

This document was published by the RDF & SPARQL Working Group as a Candidate Recommendation Snapshot using the Recommendation track.

Publication as a Candidate Recommendation does not imply endorsement by W3C and its Members. A Candidate Recommendation Snapshot has received wide review, is intended to gather implementation experience, and has commitments from Working Group members to royalty-free licensing for implementations. Future updates to this upcoming Recommendation may incorporate new features .

This Candidate Recommendation is not expected to advance to Recommendation any earlier than 05 May 2026.

This document was produced by a group operating under the W3C Patent Policy. W3C maintains a public list of any patent disclosures made in connection with the deliverables of the group; that page also includes instructions for disclosing a patent. An individual who has actual knowledge of a patent that the individual believes contains Essential Claim(s) must disclose the information in accordance with section 6 of the W3C Patent Policy.

This document is governed by the 18 August 2025 W3C Process Document.



Set of Documents  

This document is one of eleven RDF 1.2 and twelve SPARQL 1.2 documents produced by the RDF & SPARQL Working Group.  List of documents RDF 1.2 Documents: What’s New in RDF 1.2 RDF 1.2 Concepts and Abstract Data Model (this document) RDF 1.2 N-Quads RDF 1.2 N-Triples RDF 1.2 Primer RDF 1.2 Schema RDF 1.2 Semantics RDF 1.2 TriG RDF 1.2 Turtle RDF 1.2 XML Syntax RDF 1.2 Interoperability SPARQL 1.2 Documents: What’s New in SPARQL 1.2 SPARQL 1.2 Concepts SPARQL 1.2 Query Language SPARQL 1.2 Update SPARQL 1.2 Service Description SPARQL 1.2 Federated Query SPARQL 1.2 Query Results JSON Format SPARQL 1.2 Query Results CSV and TSV Formats SPARQL 1.2 Query Results XML Format SPARQL 1.2 Entailment Regimes SPARQL 1.2 Protocol SPARQL 1.2 Graph Store Protocol

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Received on Tuesday, 7 April 2026 07:48:23 UTC