Visualizing Semantic Data: A Comparative Look at KnowledgeGraph and SRF Graph
| MediaWiki Users and Developers Conference Fall 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Visualizing Semantic Data: A Comparative Look at KnowledgeGraph and SRF Graph | |
| Talk details | |
| Description: | How do you best turn semantic data into graphs? This talk compares KnowledgeGraph (interactive, vis-network.js, with a visual designer) and the Graph result format from Semantic Result Formats (static, Graphviz-based). We will look at strengths, limitations, and when to use which approach. |
| Speaker(s): | Alexander Gesinn |
| Type: | Talk |
| Audience: | Everyone |
| Event start: | 2025/10/30 09:30:00 |
| Event finish: | 2025/10/30 09:45:00 |
| Length: | 15 minutes |
| Video: | not available |
| Keywords: | knowledge graph, semantic data, visualization |
| Give feedback | |
Both the KnowledgeGraph extension and the Graph result format from Semantic Result Formats (SRF) aim to make semantic data in MediaWiki explorable as graphs — but they take very different approaches. KnowledgeGraph, recently extended to support inverse properties and to use the standard SMW API instead of a custom one, focuses on interactive network exploration through vis-network.js and offers a designer for building and exporting graph views. SRF Graph, based on Graphviz, was recently enhanced with a new parameter graphfieldspages that improves how Page-type properties are handled in node tables versus edges, making its static diagrams more expressive.
With these new capabilities landing in both projects, now is a good moment to compare the two approaches side by side: technologies used, interaction models, and typical use cases. The talk will outline strengths and limitations of each solution and help participants understand when to choose interactive knowledge graph exploration versus static graph representations.
This talk is presented under the affiliation of TIB – Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology, Hannover.
