Reification
The process of transforming a relationship or statement into a distinct data object so it can be annotated with metadata like trust scores, timestamps, or provenance.
The process of transforming a statement or relationship (edge) into a first-class entity (node) so that it can be referenced, annotated, or treated as a subject of other statements.
In standard triples (Subject -> Predicate -> Object), an edge is merely a link and cannot possess its own properties. One approach to reification is to convert the edge into a distinct object (e.g., a "Statement" node), enabling the attachment of metadata such as timestamps, confidence scores, provenance, or decision traces.
For TrustGraph, reification is the architectural foundation for Context Graphs, allowing AI systems to trust claims about data rather than just the data itself.
Example:
Standard Triple: Vehicle_A -> locatedAt -> Coordinates_X (Cannot track when)
Reified: Event_001 represents the "observation."
Event_001->subject->Vehicle_AEvent_001->timestamp->10:56 AMEvent_001->trustScore->0.85
See also: