Chainform

Chainform is a formalism for encoding sequences of related data items as a linear chain, where each item, or node, contains a payload and a reference to the next node. It is used to model ordered histories, event streams, and stepwise processes, with emphasis on provenance and traceability.

In a chainform representation, each node typically includes an identifier, a payload of substantive data, a timestamp, and a next reference to the subsequent node. A chain is the ordered sequence of such nodes linked by their next fields. Some implementations add optional metadata like source, version, or validity.

Chains are commonly serialized in flat formats such as JSON or YAML, enabling straightforward streaming and append-only updates. The core idea is to traverse from the head to the tail by following next pointers.

Origin and standards: the concept emerged in discussions of data lineage, event sourcing, and process modeling in the 2010s and 2020s. There is no single official standard; multiple domain-specific schemas adapt the idea to their needs.

Example: a chain representing an order workflow might have node 1001 with event "OrderPlaced," timestamp, payload {order_id: ORD-1001}, next 1002; node 1002 with "PaymentProcessed," next 1003; node 1003 with "OrderShipped," next null.

Applications include event sourcing, audit trails, supply-chain tracking, and blockchain analytics. Advantages include straightforward traversal and stable histories when chains are append-only; limitations include inefficient random access and potential growth in chain size, plus the need to preserve next pointers.

See also: linked list, event sourcing, data lineage.