Type Semantics

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Type Semantics defines meaning through types, type names, type membership, type compatibility, type constraints, permitted operations, and type-system rules.

A type identifies a semantic category of values, objects, model elements, messages, events, or expressions. A type system defines the set of types and the rules that govern classification, use, compatibility, and interpretation.

Type Semantics differs from datatype semantics. Datatype Semantics constrains value space, representation, and permitted operations for data values. Type Semantics constrains domain interpretation by identifying what kind of thing a value, object, message, event, or model element represents.

Type Semantics also differs from schema semantics. Schema semantics constrains information elements, structures, relationships, permitted values, and validation rules within a representation context. Type Semantics establishes semantic categories and compatibility rules that schemas, models, APIs, databases, messages, and implementation artifacts express or enforce.

Type Semantic content includes:

• Type names
• Type definitions
• Type membership
• Type compatibility
• Type constraints
• Subtypes
• Supertypes
• Type hierarchies
• Permitted operations
• Assignment rules
• Conversion rules
• Validation rules
• Domain-specific value categories
• Interface type contracts
• Message type contracts
• Traceability to Domain meaning

A governed architecture preserves traceability from Type Semantics to the conceptual model, vocabulary, schema, ontology, rule set, report model, API contract, implementation artifact, or conformance test that establishes or validates the intended meaning.

meaning defined through type membership, type compatibility, type constraints, permitted operations, and type-system rules within a defined context

DIDO Solutions usage is informed by type-system practice, software architecture, schema-language practice, modeling practice, semantic modeling practice, and model-driven architecture principles.

Type Semantics does not reduce to Datatype Semantics. A datatype constrains representation. A type constrains domain interpretation.

For example, LEI, ISIN, CurrencyCode, JurisdictionCode, and TradeIdentifier often use a string datatype. Type Semantics prevents an implementation from treating those values as interchangeable strings.

An FX architecture defines several semantic types.

The datatype string constrains representation for LEI, ISIN, CurrencyCode, CurrencyPair, and TradeIdentifier. Type Semantics distinguishes the domain meaning and permitted use of each type.

The datatype decimal constrains the representation for NotionalAmount and ExchangeRate. Type Semantics prevents a notional amount from being treated as an exchange rate.

The datatype date constrains the representation for TradeDate and SettlementDate. Type Semantics distinguishes the trade occurrence date from the settlement occurrence date.

A schema, API, DDS topic, database table, or validation function expresses Type Semantics when it preserves these distinctions and traces each type to the governed domain meaning.