Web Design in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition

RDF (Resource Description Framework)

RDF is an XML application used to define the structure of metadata for documents; for example, data that is useful for indexing, navigating, and searching a site. A standard method for describing the contents of a web site, page, or resource could be useful to automated agents that search the Web for specific information.

Metadata could be used in the following ways:

• For descriptions of resources to provide better search engine capabilities

• In cataloging, for describing the content and content relationships available at a particular web site, page, or digital library

• In describing collections of pages that represent a single logical “document”

• For digital signatures that allow electronic commerce, collaboration, and other “trust"-based applications

A simple RDF document that provides author information about a book looks like this (this example is taken from and describes the O’Reilly book XML in a Nutshell):

<rdf: RDF xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#">
<rdf:Description about="urn:isbn:0596000588">
   <author>Elliotte Rusty Harold</author>
   <author>W. Scott Means</author>
</rdf:Description>
</rdf:RDF>

The first line of code declares the namespace for RDF as http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#.

For more information about RDF, see the W3C’s pages at http://www.w3.org/RDF/.