Linked Data refers to a set of best practices for publishing and connecting structured data on the web. The concept, popularized by Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, aims to make data more interconnected, accessible, and useful. Linked Data implies more than just linking data sets. It’s also about using the web to connect related data that wasn’t previously linked allowing for more intelligent retrieval and use of data across various domains. Some key aspects of Linked Data include:
- Use of URIs as Names for Things: In Linked Data, URIs (Uniform Resource Identifiers) are used to uniquely identify resources or things. These could be anything from a person, a place, to an abstract concept.
- Use of HTTP URIs: This allows people to look up those names, or URIs, using the HTTP protocol, which is the foundation of the web. When a URI is dereferenced, useful information about the resource or thing it represents is provided.
- Provision of Useful Information: When a URI is dereferenced, it should return data in a standard format, such as RDF (Resource Description Framework), providing useful information about the resource.
- Inclusion of Links to Other URIs: This is to enable users to discover more things. By linking various data sets together, Linked Data allows the user to explore related resources and find more information.