SKOS semantic relations are links between SKOS concepts, where the link is inherent in the meaning of the linked concepts.
The Simple Knowledge Organization System distinguishes between two basic categories of semantic relation: hierarchical and associative. A hierarchical link between two concepts indicates that one is in some way more general ("broader") than the other ("narrower"). An associative link between two concepts indicates that the two are inherently "related", but that one is not in any way more general than the other.
- skos:semanticRelation. Links a concept to a concept related by meaning.
- skos:broader and skos:narrower They indicate hierarchical relationships between concepts, i.e., that one concept is broader or narrower in meaning than another. The properties form an inverse property pair, describing the two directions of a hierarchical relationship. A SKOS concept can be attached to several broader concepts at the same time.
- skos:related This SKOS label allows someone to assert an associative relationship between two concepts. The property is symmetric because the fact that two concepts are associated with each other is independent of direction.
- skos:broaderTransitive and skos:narrowerTransitive These SKOS labels also assert hierarchical relationships between concepts, i.e., one concept is broader or narrower in meaning than another.
Figure: Graphical representation of SKOS hierarchical relations.
Figure: Graphical representation of SKOS associative relation.
