Operational Semantics for SPARQL Update

Abstract

Concurrent fine grained updates are essential for using RDF stores in dynamic modern Web applications, where users increasingly contribute content as often as they read content. SPARQL Update is a language proposed by the W3C for fine grained updates for RDF stores. In this work we propose an operational semantics for an update language for RDF, which models core features of SPARQL Update. Firstly, an abstract syntax for RDF and updates is presented. Secondly, the operational semantics is defined using relations over the abstract syntax. The operational semantics specifies all possible operational behaviours of updates in the presence of an RDF store. The specification is useful as a common reference for compiler engineers and as a foundation for the static analysis of updates.