Linked Data, Towards Realizing the Web of Data: An Overview

Abstract

Data play a central role in the effectiveness and efficiency of web applications, such as the Semantic Web. However, data are distributed across a very large number of online sources, due to which a significant effort is needed to integrate this data for its proper utilization. A promising solution to this issue is the linked data initiative, which is based on four principles related to publishing web data and facilitating interlinked and structured online data rather than the existing web of documents. The basic ideas, techniques, and applications of the linked data initiative are surveyed in this paper. The authors discuss some Linked Data open issues and potential tracks to address these pending questions.