How to
Query data.open.ac.uk with SPARQL
data.open.ac.uk provides access to a number of datasets using the Resource Description Framework (RDF). In RDF, each dataset is a graph consisting of a collection of triples. data.open.ac.uk datasets are stored in the same database ("quad store") so they can be queried together. SPARQL is the query language for interacting with RDF databases. The SPARQL specifications cover a query language, query response f ormats, and a protocol for interacting with SPARQL endpoints using HTTP. data.open.ac.uk exposes a SPARQL endpoint accessible at /sparql (or /query).
Query methods and parameters
A SPARQL endpoint accepts a single query parameter whose value should be a valid, URL-encoded SPARQL query (see also the SPARQL 1.1 Protocol). Request formats can be requested using HTTP Content Negotiation (recommended). An optional output parameter may be used to request a specific response format without using HTTP Content Negotiation. < /p>
The following table summarises the API parameters:
| Parameter | Description | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| query | The SPARQL query to execute. If not provided, then the endpoint will return a query interface (when HTML is requested) or a SPARQL Service Description document (when an RDF format is requested). | No |
| output | With this parameter users can override normal HTTP based Content Negotiation to request results in a specific response format | No |
Response codes
The endpoint is published with HTTP, so agents should support any valid HTTP response code. The following table summarises the most frequent response codes and the meaning that they have in this context:
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 200 | Request has been successful |
| 400 | Invalid request. E.g. an invalid or missing SPARQL query |
| 405 | Method not allowed. Request used an unsupported HTTP method, e.g. DELETE or PUT |
| 500 | A server error happened when querying the quad store |
Query types
Access to data.open.ac.uk endpoint is publicly provided in a read-only mode. A SPARQL query that is submitted to the endpoint may be of the following types:
- SELECT
- ASK
- CONSTRUCT
- DESCRIBE
Details about the above query types can be found on the SPARQL Query specification
Response formats
The response format depends on the type of query that is sent to the service.
SELECT and ASK queries return a tabular result set, available in a number of standard SPARQL formats, detailed in the table below. Similarly, CONSTRUCT AND DESCRIBE queries return an RDF graph, that can be returned in a number of different RDF seriali sations
The primary method of selecting a response format is using Http Content Negotiation, ie specify the Accept header in the HTTP request. However, this can be overridden using the output parameter.
| Query Type | Accept header | Output parameter | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASK or SELECT | application/sparql-results+xml | xml | SPARQL XML Results Format |
| ASK or SELECT | application/sparql-results+json | json | SPARQL JSON Results Format |
| SELECT | text/csv | csv | SPARQL CSV Results Format |
| CONSTRUCT or DESCRIBE | text/turtle | ttl | Turtle |
| CONSTRUCT or DESCRIBE | application/rdf+xml | rdf | RDF/XML |
| CONSTRUCT or DESCRIBE | application/json | json | RDF/JSON |