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Core Linked.Archi Ontology for Diagrams and Visual Notation

Modified on: 2026-05-16
Revision:
0.2
Issued on:
2019-03-17
Authors:
Kalin Maldzhanski
Publisher:
Linked.Archi
Download serialization:
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License:
http://insertlicenseURIhere.example.org
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Cite as:
Kalin Maldzhanski. Core Linked.Archi Ontology for Diagrams and Visual Notation. Revision: 0.2.
Provenance of this page
Ontology Specification Draft

Core Linked.Archi Ontology for Diagrams and Visual Notation: Overview back to ToC

This ontology has the following classes and properties.

Classes

Object Properties

Data Properties

Annotation Properties

Named Individuals

Core Linked.Archi Ontology for Diagrams and Visual Notation: Description back to ToC

Core Linked.Archi Ontology for Diagrams and Visual Notation. Provides vocabulary for diagram interchange (nodes, links, bounds) and visual styling (colors, fonts, shapes, icons). Used both at the instance level (diagram elements) and at the type level (default notation for model concepts via NotationSet).

Cross-reference for Core Linked.Archi Ontology for Diagrams and Visual Notation classes, object properties and data properties back to ToC

This section provides details for each class and property defined by Core Linked.Archi Ontology for Diagrams and Visual Notation.

Classes

ArchNodec back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#ArchNode

has super-classes
Node c
is in domain of
archElement op

Containerc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#ContainerNode

has super-classes
Node c

Decorationc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#Decoration

Enumeration of endpoint decorations for relationship connectors.
is in domain of
decorSymbol dp
is in range of
sourceDecor op, targetDecor op
has members
Circle with Dot ni, Closed Arrowhead ni, Filled Diamond ni, Half Arrowhead ni, Hollow Arrowhead ni, Hollow Diamond ni, No Decoration ni, Open Arrowhead ni

DiagElementc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#DiagElement

Diagram
has sub-classes
Link c, Node c, Point c
is in domain of
style op, target op

IconPlacementc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#IconPlacement

Enumeration of positions where an icon can be placed within a shape.
is in range of
iconPlacement op
has members
Bottom Center ni, Center ni, Top Center ni, Top Left ni, Top Right ni

LabelNodec back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#LabelNode

has super-classes
Node c
is in range of
points op

LineStylec back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#LineStyle

Enumeration of line rendering styles for relationship connectors.
is in range of
lineStyle op
has members
Dashed Line ni, Dotted Line ni, Solid Line ni

List of pointsc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#PointList

List of points
has super-classes
is in range of
points op

Nodec back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#Node

has super-classes
DiagElement c
has sub-classes
ArchNode c, Container c, LabelNode c
is in domain of
bounds h dp, bounds w dp, bounds x dp, bounds y dp, points op
is in range of
source op, target op

NotationSetc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#NotationSet

A named collection of visual notation descriptors for a modeling language. Multiple notation sets allow alternative visual representations (standard, simplified, monochrome, etc.) for the same metamodel. A Metamodel links to its available notation sets via arch:notationSet (the default set). PresentationContext concepts link to their preferred notation set via arch:usesNotationSet, enabling context-aware palette generation: Metamodel ──arch:notationSet──► NotationSet (default) PresentationContext ──arch:usesNotationSet──► NotationSet (context-specific) A palette generator determines the active PresentationContext, follows usesNotationSet to get the appropriate NotationSet, then queries VisualNotation instances within it.
is in range of
inNotationSet op

Pointc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#Point

has super-classes
DiagElement c
is in domain of
point x dp, point y dp

RenderingModec back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#RenderingMode

How the element is visually composed from its shape and icon. See skos:scopeNote for the rendering algorithm.
Determines how a tool visually composes an element from its shape and icon. Each mode specifies a different rendering algorithm.
is in range of
renderingMode op
has members
Icon-Centric ni, Shape Only ni, Shape with Badge ni

ShapeTypec back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#ShapeType

Enumeration of geometric shapes used for element rendering.
is in range of
shapeType op
has members
Circle ni, Diamond ni, Ellipse ni, Hexagon ni, Octagon ni, Parallelogram ni, Rectangle ni, Rounded Rectangle ni

Stylec back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#Style

Visual style applied to a diagram element (fill, line, font).
is in domain of
defaultHeight dp, defaultWidth dp, fillColor dp, fontColor dp, fontName dp, fontSize dp, iconPlacement op, iconSymbol dp, lineColor dp, renderingMode op, shapeType op
is in range of
defaultStyle op, style op

VisualNotationc back to ToC or Class ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#VisualNotation

A structured visual notation descriptor for a single ModelConcept. Bundles a default Style (shape, color, icon) with the rendered composite image (arch:prefVisNotation). Used by palette generators and diagram editors to construct element renderings from primitives.
is in domain of
defaultStyle op, inNotationSet op, notationFor op

Object Properties

archElementop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#archElement

has characteristics: functional

has domain
ArchNode c
has range
element c

archRelationshipop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#archRelationship

Links a diagram Link to the qualified relationship resource it represents.

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Link c
has range
qualified relationship c

defaultStyleop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#defaultStyle

Links a VisualNotation to its default Style — the construction recipe for rendering this concept. Contains shape type, colors, icon, and dimensions.

has characteristics: functional

has domain
VisualNotation c
has range
Style c

iconPlacementop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#iconPlacement

Where the icon symbol is placed within the element shape.

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Style c
has range
IconPlacement c

inNotationSetop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#inNotationSet

Links a VisualNotation to the NotationSet it belongs to.
has domain
VisualNotation c
has range
NotationSet c

lineStyleop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#lineStyle

The line rendering style for a relationship connector (solid, dashed, dotted).

has characteristics: functional

has domain
qualified relationship c
has range
LineStyle c

notationForop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#notationFor

Links a VisualNotation descriptor to the ModelConcept it describes.

has characteristics: functional

has domain
VisualNotation c
has range
model concept c

pointsop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#label

The ordered list of points
has domain
Node c
has range
LabelNode c

pointsop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#points

The ordered list of points
has domain
Link c
has range
List of points c

renderingModeop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#renderingMode

How the element is visually composed from its shape and icon. Determines the rendering algorithm a tool should use: - ShapeWithBadge: colored shape with a small icon badge (ArchiMate standard) - IconCentric: the icon IS the element, label rendered below (AWS/Azure/GCP style) - ShapeOnly: colored shape with label, no icon (simplified notation)

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Style c
has range
RenderingMode c

shapeTypeop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#shapeType

The geometric shape used to render the element (e.g., rounded rectangle, hexagon, circle).

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Style c
has range
ShapeType c

sourceop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#source

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Link c
has range
Node c

sourceDecorop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#sourceDecor

The decoration at the source end of a relationship connector.

has characteristics: functional

has domain
qualified relationship c
has range
Decoration c

styleop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#style

has characteristics: functional

has domain
DiagElement c
has range
Style c

targetop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#target

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Link c
has range
Node c

targetop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#view

has characteristics: functional

has domain
DiagElement c
has range
view c

targetDecorop back to ToC or Object Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#targetDecor

The decoration at the target end of a relationship connector.

has characteristics: functional

has domain
qualified relationship c
has range
Decoration c

Data Properties

dp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#bounds-h

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Node c
has range
double

dp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#bounds-w

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Node c
has range
double

dp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#bounds-x

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Node c
has range
double

dp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#bounds-y

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Node c
has range
double

decorSymboldp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#decorSymbol

URI of the SVG marker symbol for this decoration (typically a small arrow or diamond shape).

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Decoration c
has range
anyURI

defaultHeightdp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#defaultHeight

Default height in logical units for palette rendering.

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Style c
has range
double

defaultWidthdp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#defaultWidth

Default width in logical units for palette rendering.

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Style c
has range
double

fillColordp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#fillColor

CSS rgba() string, e.g. rgba(255,255,181,100)

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Style c
has range
string

fontColordp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#fontColor

CSS rgba() string

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Style c
has range
string

fontNamedp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#fontName

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Style c
has range
string

fontSizedp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#fontSize

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Style c
has range
integer

iconSymboldp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#iconSymbol

URI of the small glyph/icon displayed within the element shape (typically top-right corner).

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Style c
has range
anyURI

lineColordp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#lineColor

CSS rgba() string

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Style c
has range
string

dp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#point-x

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Point c
has range
double

dp back to ToC or Data Property ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#point-y

has characteristics: functional

has domain
Point c
has range
double

Annotation Properties

creatorap back to ToC or Annotation Property ToC

IRI: http://purl.org/dc/terms/creator

definitionap back to ToC or Annotation Property ToC

IRI: http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core#definition

descriptionap back to ToC or Annotation Property ToC

IRI: http://purl.org/dc/terms/description

history noteap back to ToC or Annotation Property ToC

IRI: http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core#historyNote

issuedap back to ToC or Annotation Property ToC

IRI: http://purl.org/dc/terms/issued

licenseap back to ToC or Annotation Property ToC

IRI: http://creativecommons.org/ns#license

modifiedap back to ToC or Annotation Property ToC

IRI: http://purl.org/dc/terms/modified

pref labelap back to ToC or Annotation Property ToC

IRI: http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core#prefLabel

preferred namespace prefixap back to ToC or Annotation Property ToC

IRI: http://purl.org/vocab/vann/preferredNamespacePrefix

preferred namespace uriap back to ToC or Annotation Property ToC

IRI: http://purl.org/vocab/vann/preferredNamespaceUri

publisherap back to ToC or Annotation Property ToC

IRI: http://purl.org/dc/terms/publisher

scope noteap back to ToC or Annotation Property ToC

IRI: http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core#scopeNote

titleap back to ToC or Annotation Property ToC

IRI: http://purl.org/dc/terms/title

Named Individuals

Bottom Centerni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#BottomCenter

Icon placed at the bottom center of the shape.
belongs to
IconPlacement c

Centerni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#Center

Icon placed at the center of the shape.
belongs to
IconPlacement c

Circleni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#Circle

Perfect circle — used for junctions and connectors.
belongs to
ShapeType c

Circle with Dotni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#CircleDot

Small circle with a dot — used for access.
belongs to
Decoration c
has facts
decorSymbol dp "https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis/markers/circle-dot.svg"^^anyURI

Closed Arrowheadni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#ClosedArrowhead

Filled (closed) arrowhead pointing at the endpoint.
belongs to
Decoration c
has facts
decorSymbol dp "https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis/markers/closed-arrowhead.svg"^^anyURI

Dashed Lineni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#DashedLine

belongs to
LineStyle c

Diamondni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#Diamond

Rotated square — used for decision points.
belongs to
ShapeType c

Dotted Lineni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#DottedLine

belongs to
LineStyle c

Ellipseni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#Ellipse

Oval/ellipse shape — used for values, junctions.
belongs to
ShapeType c

Filled Diamondni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#FilledDiamond

Filled diamond — used for composition.
belongs to
Decoration c
has facts
decorSymbol dp "https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis/markers/filled-diamond.svg"^^anyURI

Half Arrowheadni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#HalfArrowhead

Half (one-sided) arrowhead — used for flow.
belongs to
Decoration c
has facts
decorSymbol dp "https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis/markers/half-arrowhead.svg"^^anyURI

Hexagonni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#Hexagon

Six-sided polygon — used for events in some notations.
belongs to
ShapeType c

Hollow Arrowheadni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#HollowArrowhead

Hollow (white-filled) arrowhead — used for realization.
belongs to
Decoration c
has facts
decorSymbol dp "https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis/markers/hollow-arrowhead.svg"^^anyURI

Hollow Diamondni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#HollowDiamond

Hollow diamond — used for aggregation.
belongs to
Decoration c
has facts
decorSymbol dp "https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis/markers/hollow-diamond.svg"^^anyURI

Icon-Centricni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#IconCentric

The icon IS the element — rendered at full size with the label below. Used for vendor icon sets (AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes) where the icon itself is the primary visual identity.
belongs to
RenderingMode c

No Decorationni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#NoDecoration

belongs to
Decoration c

Octagonni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#Octagon

Eight-sided polygon — used for motivation elements in some notations.
belongs to
ShapeType c

Open Arrowheadni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#OpenArrowhead

Open (unfilled) arrowhead pointing at the endpoint.
belongs to
Decoration c
has facts
decorSymbol dp "https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis/markers/open-arrowhead.svg"^^anyURI

Parallelogramni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#Parallelogram

Slanted rectangle — used for interfaces in some notations.
belongs to
ShapeType c

Rectangleni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#Rectangle

Sharp-cornered rectangle.
belongs to
ShapeType c

Rounded Rectangleni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#RoundedRectangle

Rectangle with rounded corners — the default ArchiMate element shape.
belongs to
ShapeType c

Shape Onlyni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#ShapeOnly

Colored shape with the element label centered, no icon. Used for executive-level views, monochrome printing, or when visual simplicity is preferred.
belongs to
RenderingMode c

Shape with Badgeni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#ShapeWithBadge

Colored geometric shape with a small icon badge in one corner and the element label centered. The shape and fill color carry the primary visual identity; the icon is a secondary classifier.
belongs to
RenderingMode c

Solid Lineni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#SolidLine

belongs to
LineStyle c

Top Centerni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#TopCenter

Icon placed at the top center of the shape.
belongs to
IconPlacement c

Top Leftni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#TopLeft

Icon placed in the top-left corner of the shape.
belongs to
IconPlacement c

Top Rightni back to ToC or Named Individual ToC

IRI: https://meta.linked.archi/core-vis#TopRight

Icon placed in the top-right corner of the shape (ArchiMate default).
belongs to
IconPlacement c

Legend back to ToC

c: Classes
op: Object Properties
dp: Data Properties
ni: Named Individuals

Acknowledgments back to ToC

The authors would like to thank Silvio Peroni for developing LODE, a Live OWL Documentation Environment, which is used for representing the Cross Referencing Section of this document and Daniel Garijo for developing Widoco, the program used to create the template used in this documentation.