The W3C standard data model for representing information as subject-predicate-object triples.
The Resource Description Framework (RDF) is a W3C standard for representing information on the web and in knowledge systems. RDF models information as a collection of triples, each consisting of a subject (a resource), a predicate (a property or relationship), and an object (a value or another resource). This simple but powerful model can represent any type of information and is the foundation of the Semantic Web and modern knowledge graphs.
RDF remains the foundational standard for semantic data exchange in 2026. As organizations need to share knowledge graphs across systems, vendors, and organizational boundaries, RDF provides the universal data model that enables interoperability. The Open Semantic Interchange initiative uses RDF as its core data format, and MCP servers increasingly expose data in RDF-compatible formats.
RDF resources are identified by URIs (Uniform Resource Identifiers), ensuring global uniqueness. Triples can be serialized in multiple formats including Turtle (human-readable), JSON-LD (JSON-compatible), N-Triples (line-based), and RDF/XML. RDF Schema (RDFS) extends RDF with vocabulary for defining classes and properties, while OWL provides full ontology expressiveness on top of RDF.
An RDF triple representing that 'Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web': Subject: <https://dbpedia.org/resource/Tim_Berners-Lee> Predicate: <https://dbpedia.org/ontology/inventor> Object: <https://dbpedia.org/resource/World_Wide_Web>. This triple can be stored in any triple store, queried with SPARQL, and linked to millions of other triples about Tim Berners-Lee and the Web.