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Notation3

Notation3 is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Notation3 rather than just read about it. In short: Notation3, or N3 as it is more commonly known, is a shorthand non-XML serialization of Resource Description Framework models, designed with human-readability in mind: N3 is much more compact and readable than XML RDF notation. The format is being developed by Tim Berners-Lee and others from the Semantic Web community.

Key takeaways

  • Notation3 belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Notation3 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Notation3 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Notation3, or N3 as it is more commonly known, is a shorthand non-XML serialization of Resource Description Framework models, designed with human-readability in mind: N3 is much more compact and readable than XML RDF notation. The format is being developed by Tim Berners-Lee and others from the Semantic Web community. A formalization of the logic underlying N3 was published by Berners-Lee and others in 2008. N3 has several features that go beyond a serialization for RDF models, such as support for RDF-based rules. Turtle is a simplified, RDF-only subset of N3.

Examples The following is an RDF model in standard XML notation:

may be written in Notation3 like this:

This N3 code above would also be in valid Turtle syntax.

Comparison of Notation3, Turtle, and N-Triples

See also N-Triples Turtle (syntax)

External links Notation 3 W3C Submission Notation 3 Outline on W3C Design Issues by Tim Berners-Lee Notation 3 Primer: Getting into RDF & Semantic Web using N3 A Rough Guide to Notation3 RDF for "Little Languages" An editing mode of N3 for Emacs An editing mode of N3 for vim An editing mode of N3 for textmate An editing mode of N3 for gedit EulerGUI, an IDE centered on N3 editor with translation from RDF, with validation, prefix management, uploading of resources, graph view, table view, etc.

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Notation3

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Notation3 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Notation3 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Notation3 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Notation3

In research
Notation3 appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Notation3 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Notation3 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Computer file formats, Resource Description Framework, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Notation3 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Notation3 in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Notation3 means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Notation3 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Notation3 in simple terms?

Notation3, or N3 as it is more commonly known, is a shorthand non-XML serialization of Resource Description Framework models, designed with human-readability in mind: N3 is much more compact and readable than XML RDF notation. The format is being developed by Tim Berners-Lee and others from the Sem…

Why does Notation3 matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Notation3?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Notation3.

Tags

  • Computer file formats
  • Resource Description Framework

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