usedwith

Usedwith is a term used in metadata schemas and knowledge representations to denote a compatibility or complementary relationship between two or more items. It generally indicates that the items are intended to be used together or that one item enhances or enables the use of another. The concept can apply to software modules, plugins, datasets, documentation, hardware components, or other artifacts that form a combined system.

In data models, usedwith is typically modeled as a many-to-many relation with optional qualifiers. Common attributes include minVersion and maxVersion to express version constraints, context or rationale to explain the pairing, and source or provenance to indicate how the relationship was established. Representations may place the relation in a dedicated field or link it through a separate relationship table or graph edge.

Examples of usage include a package manifest listing usedwith dependencies, a digital library entry linking a primary document with related datasets, or a configuration schema indicating which plugins are designed to operate together with a core component. For instance, a manifest might specify that a visualization module is usedwith a charting library, with version requirements attached.

Applications of usedwith span software packaging, configuration management, and knowledge graphs, where explicit pairing information improves user guidance, compatibility checks, and automated validation. Limitations include ambiguity without clear version constraints, evolving compatibility over time, and the lack of a universal standard governing the field. See also: requires, compatibleWith, dependency management, and relationships in metadata.