DerivedFrom

DerivedFrom is a binary relation used in data provenance, knowledge representation, and workflow modeling to indicate that one artifact is produced from another through some transformation or processing. When entity A is said to be derivedFrom entity B, A is considered a product or consequence of B, typically via a defined method, tool, or function.

In data and software contexts, derivedFrom is used to express lineage and traceability. For example, a dataset D may be described as derivedFrom a raw dataset R through an ETL process, or a compiled binary B may be described as derivedFrom source code S. In document and media pipelines, edited versions, rendered outputs, or downstream products are often described as derivedFrom their inputs.

Semantics of derivedFrom can vary by domain. Often the relation is treated as transitive: if A is derivedFrom B and B is derivedFrom C, then A is derivedFrom C. It can be direct or indirect and may be one-to-many, depending on how many inputs participate in the transformation. Metadata commonly accompanies a derivation, including the derivationMethod, timestamp, tools used, and parameters, to support reproducibility and auditing.

In formal provenance models, the standard relation is often expressed as wasDerivedFrom, with similar intent to capture transformation-based lineage between entities. DerivedFrom remains a widely used, domain-specific shorthand to describe how an artifact originated from another, enabling traceability and quality assessment.

Related terms include provenance, lineage, transformation, and wasDerivedFrom.