intendedFor

IntendedFor is a metadata property used primarily within the International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) to express that a resource was created for use with a specific other resource. It functions as a link relation that ties a resource to its intended target, such as a particular canvas, page, or manifest within a IIIF presentation.

In practice, intendedFor is usually represented as one or more IRIs (URIs) in JSON-LD form and appears as a value of the property intendedFor on the resource that is meant to be used in that context. The value identifies the target resource(s) for which the resource is intended. For example, an annotated image might carry intendedFor pointing to the canvas to which it belongs, or a derivative image may include intendedFor to indicate the original page or canvas it was derived from.

Usage notes: intendedFor is advisory; it helps presentation viewers and processing tools align content correctly, but it is not guaranteed to be enforced by machines. The property is most common in IIIF Presentation API materials but may be encountered in related metadata schemas. It can co-exist with other linkage properties such as seeAlso or related.

Limitations: Not all publishers populate intendedFor; interpretations can vary between versions and implementations. When using it, provide precise URIs and maintain consistency across the manifest.

See also: seeAlso, related, within, and other IIIF linking properties.