Question

What does a semicolon indicate to a SPARQL processor?

a) It separates graph patterns within a basic graph pattern.
b) It denotes the end of a SPARQL query.
c) It is used to terminate triple patterns.
d) Semicolons are not used in SPARQL syntax.

Answer 1

In SPARQL, a semicolon is used to separate triple patterns within a basic graph pattern, allowing for clear and organized structure of multiple components in a single query.

Step-by-step explanation:

In SPARQL, which is a query language used for retrieving data stored in Resource Description Framework (RDF) format, a semicolon serves a specific purpose. The semicolon is used to separate triple patterns within a single basic graph pattern. It allows for writing multiple triple patterns, which are essentially components of a query, in a succinct and organized manner, without ending the query itself. This is similar to how semicolons are used in programming languages to separate statements.

Note that this use of the semicolon is specific to SPARQL and is distinct from the more general uses of semicolons in English grammar, which include joining main clauses and separating items in a series that contain commas.