Concepts & principles / modeling-pattern

Ontology

The small controlled vocabulary that governs node types, kinds, relationship predicates, and explicit contracts.

Canonical graph nodeontology

Language before machinery

The ontology tells authors which distinctions the graph recognizes. A type gives a broad classification; a kind specializes it. Predicates name directional assertions. The actual vocabulary lives in site/data/ontology.yaml.

Grow it for a reason

Add a term when a real modeling need cannot be expressed clearly with the existing vocabulary. Do not create synonyms to make each article sound unique. Domain-specific property contracts may be added when they bring enforceable value.

An ontology makes language consistent. It does not make every recorded statement true.

Part of a connected world

Follow the meaning.

View the graph →

Outgoing connections

supportsKnowledge graph

Connected from

explainsConnect things without over-modeling them
supportsDomain-Driven Design
usesKnowledge graph
explainsModel one meaningful thing
depends-onSemantic node

Node data identity, meaning & relationships

The complete semantic record, rendered from root node: front matter.

semantic_node:
  description: The small controlled vocabulary that governs node types, kinds, relationship predicates, and explicit contracts.
  id: ontology
  kind: modeling-pattern
  name: Ontology
  relationships:
  - predicate: supports
    target: knowledge-graph
  type: concept

Publishing metadata

description: The small controlled vocabulary that governs node types, kinds, relationship predicates, and explicit contracts.
draft: false
title: Ontology
url: /graph/concepts/ontology/