Geroimenko V. Dictionary of XML Technologies and the Semantic Web

Springerm, 2004. - 262 pages. ISBN: 1852337680The emerging Second-Generation Web is based entirely on XML and related technologies. It is
intended to result in the creation of the Semantic Web, on which computers will be able to deal with
the meaning (semantics) of Web data and hence to process them in a more effective and autonomous way. This new version of the Web introduces a multitude of novel concepts, terms, and
acronyms.Purpose, Scope and Methods
This dictionary is an effort to specify the terminological basis of emerging XML and Semantic Web
technologies. The ultimate goal of this dictionary is even broader than just to define the meaning of
new words – it aims to develop a proper understanding of these leading-edge technologies.To achieve
this, comprehensible definitions of technical terms are supported by numerous diagrams and code
snippets, clearly annotated and explained.
The main areas covered in this dictionary are: (1) XML syntax and core technologies, such as
Namespaces, Infoset and XML Schema; (2) all the major members of the XML family of technologies,
such as XSLT, XPath and XLink; (3) numerous XML-based domain-specific languages, such as
NewsML (News Markup Language); (4) the concept and architecture of the Semantic Web; (5) key
SemanticWeb technologies, such as RDF (Resource Description Framework), RDF Schema and OWL
(Web Ontology Language); and (6) Web services, including WSDL (Web Services Description Language)
and SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol).
Some areas are not included in this edition of the dictionary, but they are planned to be covered in its
next editions. These areas are: (1) software for editing and processing XML documents and data; (2) programming
languages that can be used with XML, such as Java, Perl and ActionScript; (3) the historical
aspect of the XML-related technologies; (4) the theoretical, philosophical and interdisciplinary foundations
of the Semantic Web; (5) XML databases; and (6) XML-based multimedia in detail.
A variety of sources have been used to produce this dictionary. The major ones include: (1) the
latest specifications published by the W3C and other organizations; (2) authoritative books, research
articles and conference proceedings; and (3) online information, especially theWeb sites of domainspecific
markup languages.
The production of this dictionary was not only the process of compiling different sources; a
unique research-based approach has been taken, which includes the use of a set of methods from the
methodology of science, such as conceptual, logical and methodological analysis and synthesis.