On formal semantics for RDF(S) and OWL

• RDF(S) and OWL are (relatively) complicated specifications

• An unambiguous interpretation of the standard is very important

• • this was missing from the 1st version of RDF which did lead to some problems…

• This means a formal semantics of these languages

• All details of a formal semantics are not interesting for all users

• • most programming languages, query languages, etc, have a formal semantics; programmers happily use those tools without knowing about the formal semantics
  • …but it is very useful to have an idea about it!