🔢Notation

NEW

A code or symbol assigned to a concept to represent it within a classification or coding scheme.

DESCRIPTION

SKOS provides skos:notation to capture classification codes such as DDC numbers or internal taxonomies. Notations are language-neutral and often follow scheme-specific syntaxes. They complement labels by offering compact, unambiguous identifiers for filing, display, or interoperability. Governance ensures consistent assignment and versioning. Mapping across schemes may require translating notations to equivalent codes.

ALTERNATIVE DEFINITIONS

W3C

The skos:notation property is used to assign a notation to a concept.

Identifies the property’s role in representing codes for concepts.

Source

OCLC Dewey Decimal Classification

DDC notations are numeric identifiers assigned to subjects for classification and retrieval.

Provides a concrete example of notations in a widely used system.

Source

RELATED TERMS

SKOS Concept Concept Scheme Classification Code Labeling Dewey Decimal Classification Thesaurus Alternative Label Scope Note

COMPETING TERMS

Identifier Preferred Label

RELATIONS

• Narrower: Big O Notation

KNOWLEDGE AREAS

Semantic & Knowledge Modeling Metadata Management Data Modeling

TARGET AUDIENCE

Data Steward Information Analyst BI Specialist Data Modeler Data Architect

EXTERNAL SOURCES

• Wikipedia - Simple Knowledge Organization System
• W3C - SKOS notation property specification
• W3C - Primer mentions of codes and notations

TOP QUESTIONS

What is Notation in SKOS?

It’s a code assigned to a concept, such as a classification number, captured using skos:notation.

Category: Definition

How does Notation differ from Preferred Label?

Notations are compact codes; preferred labels are human-readable names for display.

Category: Misunderstanding

Why use Notation?

Codes are concise, unambiguous, and useful for filing, retrieval, and system interoperability.

Category: Relevancy

Can a concept have multiple Notations?

Yes, if it’s mapped across multiple classification schemes, each with its own code.

Category: Requirements

What risks exist with Notation?

Misaligned codes across schemes cause retrieval errors and mapping confusion.

Category: Risk

What is an example of Notation?

A DDC number like “005.133” for programming languages.

Category: Example

How are Notations governed?

Define assignment rules, track versions, and maintain crosswalks between schemes.

Category: Management

Where to learn more about Notation?

Read the SKOS Reference and resources on classification systems like DDC.

Category: Overview

Do Notations support multilingual vocabularies?

Yes, notations are language-neutral, complementing language-tagged labels.

Category: Opinion