RE: What is the URI of Truth?

Pierre-Antoine CHAMPIN wrote:

>
> Another problem with XML-namespaces is that, in current practice, their
> is a semantical ambiguity with the URI identifying them (can an http:
> URI identify a namespace ?).
> This problem, IMHO, is critical in many respects, since it raises
> questions about the semantics of URIs. There is no "interplay between
> different namespacing mechanisms" as you wrote: URIs are the global
> namespace of the SW.
>

Certainly an "http:" URI can identify a namespace, most namespace names in
common usage are http: prefixed. This distinction between URNs and URLs is
somewhat historical. A URI is more that the mere encapsulation of URLs and
URNs into a single specification: a URI prefixed with the http: scheme may
be used as a name. Similarly URIs prefixed with the "urn:" scheme may be
resolved.

XML and XML applications see no "semantic ambiguity". The only ambiguity I
see is that which is attached by humans trying to read the tea leaves.


-Jonathan

Received on Monday, 11 June 2001 06:33:33 UTC