langLabels

langLabels is a system for representing human language identification within data structures, particularly in the context of linked data and knowledge graphs. It provides a standardized way to associate a language code with a textual literal. This is crucial for disambiguating the meaning of text that might be different in various languages, such as the title of a book or a person's name.

The core concept behind langLabels is to pair a string of text with a language tag, typically following the BCP 47 standard. For example, the string "Paris" might be associated with the language tag "en" for English, and "Parigi" with the tag "it" for Italian. This allows for precise retrieval and display of information tailored to a user's preferred language.

In practice, langLabels are often implemented using specific data formats like JSON-LD or RDF. Within these formats, a language-tagged string is represented as an object with a "value" (the text itself) and a "language" (the BCP 47 tag). This structured approach ensures that machines can reliably understand and process multilingual content. The use of langLabels enhances interoperability and facilitates the creation of truly global and accessible datasets. They are a fundamental component for building multilingual web applications and knowledge bases.