From 182ce2e45133960f1a26f8a6e217cbe076ee87b5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Darren A. Natale" Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2026 13:01:41 -0400 Subject: [PATCH 1/2] Update fp-012-naming-conventions.md --- principles/fp-012-naming-conventions.md | 28 ++++++++++++++++--------- 1 file changed, 18 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-) diff --git a/principles/fp-012-naming-conventions.md b/principles/fp-012-naming-conventions.md index ff809ee1c..99d497d8e 100644 --- a/principles/fp-012-naming-conventions.md +++ b/principles/fp-012-naming-conventions.md @@ -12,31 +12,39 @@ GO TO: [Recommendations/Requirements](#recommendations-and-requirements) | ## Summary -The names (primary labels) for elements (classes, properties, etc.) in an ontology SHOULD be unique among OBO Foundry ontologies, and MUST be unique within its own ontology. +The names (primary labels) for elements (classes, properties, etc.) in an ontology SHOULD be unique among OBO Foundry ontologies, MUST be unique within its own ontology, and SHOULD be written in accepted format. ## Purpose -Text to be added. +Primary labels are a major mechanism by which terms are referenced. Accordingly, it is important that labels be unique, unambiguous, and formatted for ease of reading and comprehension. Non-unique labels (sometimes for terms that mean very different things) may cause confusion for human users and may prevent some ontology editors from full access to terms (for example, when crafting axioms). Labels that are ambiguous cause difficulty when users are trying to identify a term that matches their intention. ## Recommendations and Requirements Text to be added. + For full details, see this paper: Briefly, some important things to remember: -- use rdfs:label for the primary label -- include exactly one rdfs:label for every declared entity (e.g. class, property) -- write labels, synonyms, etc as if writing in plain English text. ie use spaces to separate words, only capitalize proper names (e.g. Parkinson disease). Do not use CamelCase, do_not_use_underscores -- avoid extra spaces between words, or at the beginning or end of the term label -- spell out abbreviations. Abbreviations can be included as a separate property. -- make the primary labels to be as unambiguous as possible. Remember, your ontology may be used in a different context than that for which it was originally intended. Remember also of course that the label should be unambiguous without looking at parent terms -- labels MUST be unique within an ontology -- use the IAO property 'obo foundry unique label' [http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/IAO_0000589](http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/IAO_0000589) to declare a pan-OBO unique label if required +- There MUST be exactly one rdfs:label for every declared entity (e.g. class, property) +- Labels MUST be unique within an ontology and SHOULD be unique within the wider OBO Foundry +- Format requirements + - Write labels and synonyms using plain English text + - Use spaces to separate words + - Only capitalize proper names (e.g. Parkinson disease) + - Do not use CamelCase + - Do not use under_scores + - Avoid extra spaces between words, or at the beginning or end of the term label + - Spell out abbreviations. Abbreviations can be included as alternative labels (i.e., synonyms) +- Primary labels SHOULD be as unambiguous as possible. An ontology may be used in a context that differs from that for which it was originally intended, including being combined with other ontologies. +- Optimally, each label SHOULD be unambiguous even without looking at parent terms ## Implementation Text to be added. +- Use rdfs:label for the primary label +- use the IAO property 'obo foundry unique label' [http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/IAO_0000589](http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/IAO_0000589) to declare a pan-OBO unique label if required + ## Examples From ebb22ebd517a73c37bcb68088b07352e3b760f97 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Darren A. Natale" Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2026 13:16:04 -0400 Subject: [PATCH 2/2] Update principles/fp-012-naming-conventions.md Co-authored-by: Nomi Harris --- principles/fp-012-naming-conventions.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/principles/fp-012-naming-conventions.md b/principles/fp-012-naming-conventions.md index 99d497d8e..73a86adc6 100644 --- a/principles/fp-012-naming-conventions.md +++ b/principles/fp-012-naming-conventions.md @@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ The names (primary labels) for elements (classes, properties, etc.) in an ontolo ## Purpose -Primary labels are a major mechanism by which terms are referenced. Accordingly, it is important that labels be unique, unambiguous, and formatted for ease of reading and comprehension. Non-unique labels (sometimes for terms that mean very different things) may cause confusion for human users and may prevent some ontology editors from full access to terms (for example, when crafting axioms). Labels that are ambiguous cause difficulty when users are trying to identify a term that matches their intention. +Primary labels are a major mechanism by which terms are referenced. Accordingly, it is important that labels be unique, unambiguous, and formatted for ease of reading and comprehension. Non-unique labels (sometimes for terms that mean very different things) may cause confusion for human users and may prevent some ontology editing tools from full access to terms (for example, when crafting axioms). Labels that are ambiguous cause difficulty when users are trying to identify a term that matches their intention. ## Recommendations and Requirements