FormatsBetween

FormatsBetween is a conceptual framework and middleware abstraction used to manage transitions between data and media formats. It defines the space of intermediate representations and the rules required to convert from a source format to a target format, with an emphasis on preserving structure, meaning, and, where possible, metadata.

The concept covers the discovery of source and target formats, the selection of conversion pathways, and the coordination of multiple transformation steps. FormatsBetween supports bidirectional as well as unidirectional conversions and promotes transparency through traceable mappings, version-aware schemas, and auditable transformation histories.

Typical architecture includes a format registry, bridge adapters for known formats, a library of transformers or converters, validators for structural and semantic integrity, and an orchestration layer that chooses routes, handles errors, and logs provenance. It often integrates with data catalogs and API gateways.

Common use cases arise in data interoperability, ETL pipelines, content management, and multimedia workflows. Examples include converting CSV to JSON, XML to JSON, Markdown to HTML, and preserving essential metadata across formats or enabling non-destructive round trips when possible.

Challenges involve feature parity gaps between formats, potential semantic drift, loss of fidelity, handling large or streaming data, and maintaining up-to-date mappings as formats evolve. FormatsBetween is not a standardized term, but a useful abstraction for analyzing and designing interoperability solutions.