Metaformats
From Just Solve the File Format Problem
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A '''metaformat''' (or '''meta format''') is a generic low-level file format used as a basis for defining high-level file formats. | A '''metaformat''' (or '''meta format''') is a generic low-level file format used as a basis for defining high-level file formats. | ||
| − | Whether a format is a metaformat is ultimately a judgment call. There are no definitive answers to questions like: What is the difference between a ''container'' format and a metaformat? Or a [[serialization]] format and a metaformat? Is [[CSV]] a metaformat, or is it a database format? Should [[TIFF]] and [[PDF]] be considered to be metaformats, given all the subformats of them that have been defined? | + | Whether a format is a metaformat is ultimately a judgment call. There are no definitive answers to questions like: What is the difference between a ''container'' format and a metaformat? Or a [[serialization]] format and a metaformat? Is [[CSV]] a metaformat, or is it a database or a spreadsheet format? Should [[TIFF]] and [[PDF]] be considered to be metaformats, given all the subformats of them that have been defined? |
| − | == Formats == | + | Another reasonable, but different, definition of ''metaformat'' is "a format that describes other formats". |
| + | |||
| + | == Formats that implement other formats == | ||
* [[Boxes/atoms format]] | * [[Boxes/atoms format]] | ||
| − | |||
* [[IFF]] | * [[IFF]] | ||
* [[ODL (NASA Object Description Language)]] | * [[ODL (NASA Object Description Language)]] | ||
* [[RIFF]] | * [[RIFF]] | ||
* [[SGML]] | * [[SGML]] | ||
| − | |||
* [[XML]] | * [[XML]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Formats that describe other formats == | ||
| + | * [[DFDL]] (Data Format Description Language) - a file format for describing file formats (how meta can you get?) | ||
| + | * [[XMDP]] (XHTML Meta Data Profiles) | ||
* [[XML Schema Definition]] | * [[XML Schema Definition]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Related: [[File identification software]], [[Format validation and analysis software]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Miscellaneous / Uncategorized == | ||
* [[XMP]] (Extensible Metadata Platform) | * [[XMP]] (Extensible Metadata Platform) | ||
| + | * [[ZIP]] - Was not intended to be a metaformat, but is often used as one. Refer to some of the formats in [[:Category:ZIP based file formats]]. | ||
== Links == | == Links == | ||
* [http://www.w3.org/standards/webarch/metaformats W3C: Meta formats] | * [http://www.w3.org/standards/webarch/metaformats W3C: Meta formats] | ||
Revision as of 22:33, 30 September 2013
A metaformat (or meta format) is a generic low-level file format used as a basis for defining high-level file formats.
Whether a format is a metaformat is ultimately a judgment call. There are no definitive answers to questions like: What is the difference between a container format and a metaformat? Or a serialization format and a metaformat? Is CSV a metaformat, or is it a database or a spreadsheet format? Should TIFF and PDF be considered to be metaformats, given all the subformats of them that have been defined?
Another reasonable, but different, definition of metaformat is "a format that describes other formats".
Contents |
Formats that implement other formats
Formats that describe other formats
- DFDL (Data Format Description Language) - a file format for describing file formats (how meta can you get?)
- XMDP (XHTML Meta Data Profiles)
- XML Schema Definition
Related: File identification software, Format validation and analysis software
Miscellaneous / Uncategorized
- XMP (Extensible Metadata Platform)
- ZIP - Was not intended to be a metaformat, but is often used as one. Refer to some of the formats in Category:ZIP based file formats.
