patternspreamble

Patternspreamble is a term used in pattern-oriented design and data modeling to refer to the introductory segment of a document, file, or specification that defines the vocabulary, constraints, and metadata for the patterns that follow. In practice, the patternspreamble acts as a lightweight header that establishes the scope and rules for pattern definitions, enabling consistent interpretation by pattern engines, validators, or templating systems.

A typical patternspreamble includes: a namespace or domain identifier, a version or revision, optional authorship or provenance metadata, a list of permitted pattern names, their associated data types or schemas, constraints such as cardinality or default values, and dependencies on other patterns or libraries.

In usage, patternspreamble is read by parsers before processing the main body of the document. It enables validation, provides auto-completion in editors, and supports tooling for pattern reuse and composition.

Relation to other concepts: It is similar in function to a document preamble, but specialized for describing patterns. It relates to pattern libraries, design patterns, and pattern matching systems. For example, a YAML-based preamble might declare patterns named Item and Attribute with field types and constraints; the main body then uses these patterns.

See also: Preamble, Pattern, Pattern matching, Design pattern, Schema.