Rule Semantics

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Rule semantics defines meaning through rules, conditions, constraints, decisions, obligations, prohibitions, permissions, derivations, validations, and consequences.

A rule expresses semantic content when it constrains what an artifact, system, actor, process, message, report, schema, ontology, or implementation behavior means in a defined context. Rule semantics identifies the meaning of the condition, the required outcome, the prohibited outcome, the permitted outcome, and the consequence of rule satisfaction or violation.

Rule semantics differs from rule syntax. Rule syntax provides the form of the rule. Rule semantics defines what the rule means and how the rule constrains interpretation or behavior.

Rule semantics also differs from implementation logic. Implementation logic executes or enforces selected rules. Rule semantics establishes the meaning that implementation logic preserves, validates, derives, or enforces.

Rules appear in several forms, including natural-language business rules, decision tables, validation rules, policy rules, conformance rules, Semantic Business Vocabulary Model (SBVM) vocabulary constraints, Standard Business Report Model (SBRM) reporting rules, schema constraints, OWL axioms, runtime checks, and executable rule engines.

Rule-processing architectures express rule semantics through defined responsibilities. A policy administration point records or manages governed rules. A policy information point supplies facts, attributes, or context used during rule evaluation. A policy decision point evaluates rules and produces decisions. A policy enforcement point enforces decisions.

Rule semantic content includes:

• Rule subjects
• Rule conditions
• Rule conclusions
• Business vocabulary terms
• Fact types
• Obligations
• Prohibitions
• Permissions
• Constraints
• Derivations
• Decision inputs
• Decision outputs
• Validation outcomes
• Decision outcomes
• Exceptions
• Violation conditions
• Rejection reasons
• Evidence requirements
• Policy administration points
• Policy information points
• Policy decision points
• Policy enforcement points
• Traceability to semantic sources

A governed architecture preserves traceability from rule semantics to the conceptual model, vocabulary, policy source, schema, ontology, report model, implementation artifact, or conformance test that expresses or validates the rule meaning.

meaning defined through rules, conditions, constraints, decisions, obligations, prohibitions, permissions, validations, and consequences within a defined context

DIDO Solutions usage, informed by business rule practice, policy modeling, validation practice, conformance testing, semantic modeling practice, and model-driven architecture principles.

Rule semantics is not equivalent to rule execution. A rule engine, validation function, policy decision point, policy enforcement point, or runtime check expresses selected rule semantics in executable or operational form. The governed rule source establishes the intended meaning.

A rule violation carries semantic meaning when the violated rule traces to a defined concept, business vocabulary, policy, requirement, report model, schema, ontology, lifecycle, or other authoritative semantic source.

An FX Demo specification defines the following business rule:

A confirmed FX trade has a settlement date that does not precede the trade date.

The rule contains semantic content because it defines a valid relationship between the trade date, settlement date, and confirmed lifecycle state.

The rule-processing architecture assigns responsibilities for the same rule:

The same rule appears as executable validation logic in an implementation:

if settlementDate < tradeDate:
    reject("Settlement date precedes trade date")

The code expresses rule semantics only because the implementation traces to the governed rule. Without traceability, the code represents an undocumented implementation decision rather than a governed semantic constraint.