Schemaswhat

Schemaswhat is a term used in information science to describe a meta-schema or schema of schemas that formalizes descriptions of data schemas themselves. It represents a higher-level abstraction that can capture properties like schema name, version, authorship, compatibility constraints, validation rules, and dependencies among schemas.

The concept is used to facilitate interoperability, governance, and tooling by providing a uniform description language for datasets and services. A schemaswhat document can describe multiple constituent schemas and the rules for their composition, evolution, and validation across systems.

Common representations for schemaswhat include JSON-based or YAML-based meta-schemas, as well as mappings to established formats such as JSON Schema or XML Schema. Practitioners may use it to generate documentation, validate schema catalogs, automate deployment pipelines, and enable schema discovery in large organizations.

Schemaswhat sits near related ideas such as meta-schemas, schema registries, and schema catalogs. It also relates to concepts of schema evolution, versioning, and data governance. While not universally adopted, several industry discussions treat schemaswhat as a practical approach to managing complex schema ecosystems.

Critiques emphasize potential complexity, over-engineering, and fragmentation between tools and formats. Proponents argue it can reduce ambiguity and improve collaboration when used with clear governance and standardization.

See also:

- Schema

- Meta-schema

- JSON Schema

- XML Schema

- Schema registry

- Data governance

- Metadata

- Data modeling