rdfsrange

rdfs:range is a term in the RDF Schema (RDFS) vocabulary used to indicate the class of objects that a property can point to. It specifies that, for statements using a given property, the object position should be a member of a particular class. Together with rdfs:domain, which constrains the subject, rdfs:range expresses a type expectation for the value on the object side of a triple. In standard RDF semantics, if a triple s p o exists and p rdfs:range C, then o is expected to be an instance of C (or a subclass of C) in any interpretation. Literals are treated specially and are not always subject to the same range constraints.

Usage and implications: A common pattern is to define a property with a domain and a range. For example, ex:hasAuthor rdfs:domain ex:Book and rdfs:range ex:Person. Then, if ex:Book1 ex:hasAuthor ex:Alice, reasoning can infer ex:Alice rdf:type ex:Person. If multiple range declarations are present for a property, each corresponding class can be inferred for the object.

Relationship to validation and reasoning: rdfs:range provides a lightweight constraint that supports inference rather than strict data validation. Real-world data may not always conform, and reasoners may be used to derive type information. In OWL, more expressive constraint mechanisms exist, but rdfs:range remains a foundational, widely supported feature for describing expected object types.

Examples in Turtle:

:hasAuthor rdfs:domain :Book .

:hasAuthor rdfs:range :Person .

Example: :Book1 :hasAuthor :Alice . (implies :Alice rdf:type :Person)