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Definition
A data shape specification or simply as data shape constraint or data shape, provides a set of conditions on top of an ontology/ schema, limiting how the ontology can be instantiated. this is commonly used for validation of the data. It can also be used as a interoperable mechanism for data exchange between two systems since the every shacl file has the schema defintion and the exchange rule.
Description
The conditions and constraints that apply to a given ontology are provided as shapes and other constructs expressed in the form of an RDF graph.
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In the context of health-ri and for national catalog we assume that the data shapes are expressed in SHACL language as an artefact. This is commonly used for validation of the data. It can also be used as a mechanism for interoperability for data exchange between two systems. Every shacl file contain schema definition and the exchange constraints.
Core Vocabulary
Metadata specification document
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