Ontology, Schema and Knowledge Graph

Check — Knowledge Graph Series [https://ogre51.medium.com/knowledge-graph-series-01aa961c0d21]

Ontology, schema, and knowledge graph are key concepts. They all help in organizing and managing data. The differences between them, though, is not generally well understood.

Let’s try.

1. Ontology:

An ontology is a formal representation of a set of concepts within a domain and the relationships between those concepts. It is like a detailed map for a specific subject, showing how various ideas connect and relate. Imagine a family tree, but for concepts instead of people.

It provides a shared vocabulary and a common understanding of the domain, facilitating data integration, interoperability, and reasoning. Think of a group of doctors. They use specific terms like “cardiologist” or “myocardial infarction” to ensure everyone understands each other precisely. In a project with engineers and architects, an ontology helps both teams understand terms like “load-bearing wall” or “foundation” the same way.

An ontology typically includes classes (concepts), properties (relationships), and constraints.

• Classes are nothing but the main ideas. For example, in a library system…