Ypes

Ypes is a term used in some niche discussions to denote a high-level classification of data or linguistic categories that underlie concrete instances. The word is not part of a widely adopted standard and may appear as a placeholder or in exploratory writings.

Definition and concept: In its core, ypes refer to semantic-type abstractions that group items by meaning rather than by form. They are contrasted with tokens (the concrete instances) and with surface types (the general class). Some authors describe ypes as an intermediate layer between ontologies and data schemas, helping to express constraints and relationships at a higher level of abstraction.

In computing and data modeling, ypes are used in discussions about type abstraction, where a "ype" stands for a generic category such as entity, event, or property. Proposals sometimes link ypes to type theory or to semantic data modeling, arguing that policies or constraints can be expressed at the ype level and inherited by all tokens of that ype.

In linguistics, proponents imagine ypes as semantic types used to analyze predicates and arguments, distinct from syntactic categories. The concept helps illustrate how different languages encode similar meanings through diverse grammatical forms, by focusing on meaning-driven classifications rather than surface structure.

History and usage: The term appears sporadically in conference notes and experimental essays since the early 2000s. It has not gained wide acceptance in major reference works, and many practitioners prefer established terms like "type," "semantic type," or "category."

See also: Type theory, Semantic type, Type system, Ontology, Data modeling.

References: Given its niche status, references are limited and mostly found in workshop papers and online glossaries.