Setattro

Setattro is a conceptual software library and data-modeling approach designed to combine finite set operations with per-element attribute data. It provides a uniform interface for building, comparing, and querying collections of elements where each item can carry metadata, enabling richer representations than plain sets alone.

The core primitives are Element, Set, and Attribute. An Element is an identifiable item; an Attribute is a key-value pair attached to elements or to a set. A Set is a collection of elements, optionally carrying attributes that describe the collection itself. Nested sets are allowed, enabling hierarchical models such as groups within groups.

Operations include standard set operators—union, intersection, difference, and subset checks—enhanced with attribute-aware variants. Queries support filtering by attributes, grouping by attribute values, and applying simple transformation rules during operations. A persistence layer stores sets and attributes, with indexing to speed lookups and diffing to track changes.

Use cases include knowledge graphs, configuration management, tagging and provenance systems, and scenarios where membership and metadata must travel together. Design goals emphasize predictable attribute propagation during operations and efficient incremental updates.

As a concept, Setattro is described in academic and instructional contexts to illustrate hybrid data models that blend set theory with metadata. There is no universal specification, and implementations vary. Community discussions stress clear semantics, portability, and explicit handling of attribute inheritance.

See also: Set theory; data modeling; knowledge graph; functional programming; attribute grammars.