- From: Jonathan Rees <jar@creativecommons.org>
- Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:55:24 -0500
- To: www-tag@w3.org
- Cc: Ben Adida <ben@adida.net>
Re ACTION-502: Report back on discussions with Ben Adida regarding fragid semantics for RDFa Background: RDFa documents define fragment ids in XML and HTML documents using the syntax 'about="#xyz"'. While this pattern is not explicitly called out in any RDFa recommendation or draft, it is used in many examples in recommendations and rec track documents (see [1], [2]). It is also widely used in practice [citation needed]. According to RFC 3986, a "fragment's format and resolution is ... dependent on the media type of a potentially retrieved representation". However, the media type registrations that would apply to documents in which RDFa occurs do not explain this practice. Thus actual RDFa practice appears to be outside the chain of specifications. I spoke with Ben Adida, RDFa WG co-chair, about this situation. Ben confirmed my sense that this use of fragids is an important part of the RDFa value proposition, and that it is widely deployed. Deprecating the practice at this point would be extremely disruptive. He said it was the working group's sense that nothing in particular needs to be done to enable this mode of fragid definition, and that it worked just fine. Their solution is to do nothing. If a fix is deemed necessary, there are multiple possible intervention points, including: deprecating the practice, revising 3986, revising AWWW, and revising the relevant media type registrations. The latter seems easiest as revisions to both registrations are currently under preparation. The RDFa WG has no plans to take up this issue or to request any changes to the relevant media type registrations. [Note that this is *not* a problem for application/rdf+xml, as its media type registration *does* address the question.] Best Jonathan [1] RDFa in XHTML: Syntax and Processing http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-rdfa-syntax-20081014 section 6.1.1.1, etc. [2] RDFa Core 1.1: Syntax and processing rules for embedding RDF through attributes http://www.w3.org/TR/2010/WD-rdfa-core-20101026/ section 8.1.1.1, etc.
Received on Monday, 29 November 2010 20:55:52 UTC