====== OWL ======

[[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:start|Return to Terms and Definitions]]

===== Discussion =====

OWL, the Web Ontology Language, is a W3C [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:o:ontology_language]] for the Semantic Web. OWL provides constructs for expressing classes, properties, individuals, axioms, and relationships with formally defined meaning.

OWL supports machine processing and reasoning over [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:o:ontology]] content. Systems use OWL for formal ontology expression, consistency checking, classification, and inference under OWL semantics.

OWL is an ontology language. OWL does not define [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:s:semantic]] as a whole, and OWL does not define ontology as a modeling discipline. An architecture uses OWL to realize selected ontology content after defining the underlying domain meaning.

===== Definition =====

//ontology language for the Semantic Web with formally defined meaning//

===== Source =====

W3C Web Ontology Language (OWL), specialized for use in the FX Demo Reference Architecture.

===== Note =====

OWL documents express ontologies. OWL expression does not by itself establish validity. The [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:c:conceptual_model]] and domain meaning govern the OWL expression.

===== Example =====

An OWL ontology expresses ''FXTrade'' as a class, ''hasCounterparty'' as a property, and ''TradeConfirmed'' as a class or individual pattern. The OWL expression supports formal processing, but the FX Demo architecture defines the business meaning of trade confirmation.

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