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semanticssemantic-webowlprotege

What is the meaning of "Equivalent To" in Protege?


I am studying OWL and I am trying to build an Ontology using Protege.

I found an option called Equivalent To in Protege.

What is that option for please? Is it for dividing the space of instances? or is it to set the Object properties that a class can have?


Solution

  • Equivalent to applies to class expressions, object properties and data properties.

    Equivalence in class expressions

    In class expressions, equivalence means that two classes have the same individuals in any interpretation (i.e., the two classes are alternate names, or equivalent definitions, for the same set of individuals).

    Equivalence in data and object properties

    For object and data properties, asserting that two properties are equivalent means that their domains and ranges apply to both properties, and that every assertion using one property can be rewritten as using the other.

    Example

    For example, suppose I declare a hasOwner object property and an ownedBy as equivalent, then: MyCar hasOwner Me implies MyCar ownedBy Me.