[Bug 3232] Type versus Datatype

http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=3232





------- Comment #5 from noah_mendelsohn@us.ibm.com  2008-02-05 19:17 -------
Michael Kay writes:

> As far as I can see, the words "datatype"
> and "simple type" are pure synonyms.

I always found the distinction confusing, but I vaguely recall that there is
one.  Or, stated differently, I vaguely recall that when this question came up
a few years ago that a resolution was proposed.  I >think< it was:

Simple Type: The combination of a lexical space, a value space, definitions of
certain relations like equality, and maybe a few other things I'm forgetting.

Datatype: A component in the schema component graph, typically used to specify
the definition of a Simple Type through use of facets.

That said, I was never terribly optimistic that users would like or remember
this distinction.  I'm not particularly an advocate for this terminology, but
neither did I object strongly nor have sufficiently better alternatives to
propose.  Anyway, that's my somewhat hazy recollection of what the difference
was supposed to be.   Can anyone verify that I do or don't have this right? 
Thanks.

Noah

Received on Tuesday, 5 February 2008 19:17:30 UTC