Hálfstruktúrð

Hálfstruktúrð is a term used in Icelandic information science to describe data or information that is partially structured, sitting between fully structured data and unstructured data. It denotes data with some organization, such as tags, key‑value pairs, or hierarchical elements, but without a rigid, uniform schema that applies to every record.

Etymology and scope: The word combines hálf meaning “half” and strúktúrð, a form of “structured,” reflecting the idea of an incomplete or flexible structure. In practice, hálfstruktúrð is closely related to the broader concept of semi‑structured data, which is common in modern data ecosystems.

Characteristics: Hálfstruktúrð typically features optional fields, varying schemas across records, and nested or mixed data formats. It is often stored in formats and systems that support schema-on-read or flexible schemas, such as JSON, XML, YAML, or RDF, and is commonly managed in document stores, graph databases, or wide‑column stores.

Applications: This concept is used to describe data arising from diverse sources where strict uniform schemas are impractical, including social media feeds, web metadata, logs from heterogeneous devices, and cross‑domain data integration projects. It supports rapid ingestion and evolution of data models but requires flexible querying and validation strategies.

Advantages and challenges: The main advantages are adaptability, scalability, and reduced upfront modeling. Challenges include data quality, inconsistent fields, complex querying, and interoperability across systems with differing interpretations of the incomplete structure.

See also: semi‑structured data, NoSQL, JSON, XML, RDF.