http://www.openlinksw.com:443/blog/kidehen@openlinksw.com/blog/?id=1547 A person, organization, place, idea, subject matter topic/heading, and other real world things possess "identity" -- that is, a constellation of characteristics that distinguish them from any other identity. Associated with this abstraction can be a label used as a reference, or "identifier". This is the distinction between a thing and the name of the thing. section from IETF's Domain Keys spec. (paraphrased by me) . The Linked Data meme is based on the use of HTTP based URIs as reference / identifier labels associated with the "identity abstraction" referred to above. Thus, when you de-reference (request information about) an HTTP based URI you ultimately end up with a resource URL that exposes the "constellation of characteristics" mentioned above, in a representation negotiated at request time -- between an HTTP client and server e.g., (X)HTML, JSON, XML, RDF/XML, N3, Turtle, Trix, others :-) Related What is the Linked Data meme About? Simple Explanation of RDF & Linked Data Dynamics. Handle -- Internet wide Identity Scheme and Resolution System Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:05:58 GMTVirtuoso Universal Server 08.03.3334Kingsley Uyi Idehenhttp://www.openlinksw.com:443/weblog/public/images/vbloglogo.gifhttp://www.openlinksw.com:443/blog/kidehen@openlinksw.com/blog/?id=1547I have seen the future and it's full of Linked Data! :-)8831