[data-shapes] Data block definition / inclusion in data graph (#791)

recalcitrantsupplant has just created a new issue for https://github.com/w3c/data-shapes:

== Data block definition / inclusion in data graph ==
1. The naming of Data Blocks may lead to ambiguity about which graph they contribute to. Because the term "data" is also used in "data graph", users may incorrectly assume that Data Blocks contribute to the data graph rather than the inference graph. I think this can be clarified by a definition update, I'll open a PR with this:

    Current: A [data block](https://raw.githack.com/w3c/data-shapes/outline/shacl12-rules/index.html#dfn-data-block) is a set of triples. These form extra facts that are included in the inference process.

    Proposed: A [data block](https://raw.githack.com/w3c/data-shapes/outline/shacl12-rules/index.html#dfn-data-block) is a set of triples that are added to the inference graph as inferred triples.

2. Related to the above, implementations could optionally treat Data Blocks as contributing to the data graph instead of the inference graph, as an alternate execution mode. This would provide a lightweight way to define inline reference data, such as constants for currency conversions or unit definitions. The benefit would be they are first class objects, so are explicitly scoped with rules (in rulesets) for readability/clarity, versus needing to handle/ensure reference data is included in the input data graph (which would be the logical alternative). I don't think it would be good to cover such an alternate execution mode in the spec as there would be a few places to add if/else logic and it could confuse readers. A drawback of offering such functionality could be that users write their rules/datablocks/data with an intended execution mode in mind, and could get different results if using the other mode.

Please view or discuss this issue at https://github.com/w3c/data-shapes/issues/791 using your GitHub account


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Received on Monday, 16 February 2026 13:33:55 UTC