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RDF Graph Databases

RDF triple stores explained: the standards, the engines and the tools for building semantic knowledge graphs.

63 topics•8 categories•Updated October 2026

What Is an RDF Graph Database?

6 entries

An RDF graph database, or triple store, stores data as subject-predicate-object triples identified by IRIs, queries it with SPARQL, and can validate it with SHACL and infer new facts with RDFS or OWL reasoning. Because identifiers are global, RDF data from different sources can be merged and linked, which is why it underpins linked data, Wikidata-style knowledge graphs and enterprise semantic layers.

01RDF 1.2 Concepts and Abstract Data Model (W3C)The RDF 1.2 specification, a W3C Candidate Recommendation Snapshot dated April 2026. 02RDF 1.2 Primer (W3C)Gentle introduction to RDF concepts and syntax. 03RDF 1.1 Primer (W3C)The primer for the current Recommendation, RDF 1.1. 04Linked Data design issues (Tim Berners-Lee)The original note on linked data principles. 05W3C Semantic Web standards: dataOverview of the W3C standards for web data. 06Knowledge GraphsKnowledge graph technologies on this site.

Standards: SPARQL, SHACL, OWL & Serializations

12 entries

The W3C specifications that triple stores implement.

07SPARQL 1.1 Query Language (W3C)The current SPARQL Recommendation. 08SPARQL 1.2 Query Language (W3C)The next version of SPARQL, a W3C Working Draft as of October 2026. 09SHACL (W3C)Shapes Constraint Language for validating RDF graphs. 10SHACL community siteResources and tools for SHACL. 11OWL 2 Overview (W3C)Web Ontology Language for modelling and reasoning. 12RDF Schema (W3C)Vocabulary for describing RDF classes and properties. 13Turtle (W3C)A compact, human-readable RDF syntax. 14JSON-LD 1.1 (W3C)JSON-based serialization of linked data. 15SPARQL 1.1 Federated Query (W3C)Querying multiple SPARQL endpoints from one query. 16SPARQL 1.1 Protocol (W3C)HTTP protocol for SPARQL endpoints. 17RDF & SPARQL Working Group (W3C)The W3C group developing RDF 1.2 and SPARQL 1.2, including RDF-star features. 18OntologiesOWL, SHACL, Protégé and reasoners on this site.

Commercial & Enterprise Triple Stores

11 entries

Supported products with reasoning, validation and enterprise features.

19GraphDB (Ontotext, now part of Graphwise)Semantic graph database with RDFS and OWL reasoning and a free edition; documentation site. 20GraphwiseCompany that now includes Ontotext and PoolParty; the site blocks automated checks. 21Stardog documentationEnterprise knowledge graph platform with SPARQL, virtual graphs and reasoning. 22AllegroGraph (Franz)Graph database with SPARQL, reasoning and multi-model features. 23RDFox (Oxford Semantic Technologies)In-memory RDF store with rule-based reasoning. 24OpenLink VirtuosoMulti-model server that powers DBpedia, with SPARQL and SQL. 25MarkLogic (Progress)Multi-model database that includes a semantic triple store. 26FlureeGraph database that supports JSON-LD and SPARQL with an immutable ledger. 27TerminusDBVersion-controlled document and graph database. 28TopQuadrantSemantic data platform and SHACL tooling. 29PoolParty Semantic Suite (Graphwise)Builds and manages enterprise knowledge graphs and taxonomies; now presented as part of the Graphwise platform.

Open-Source Triple Stores & Frameworks

10 entries

Free engines and libraries.

30Apache Jena FusekiSPARQL server from the Apache Jena project; the repository was active in October 2026. 31Apache Jena TDB2Native RDF triple store for Jena. 32Apache JenaJava framework for RDF, SPARQL, OWL and SHACL. 33Eclipse RDF4JJava framework and server for RDF storage and querying; the repository was active in October 2026. 34OxigraphRust SPARQL database and library; the repository was active in October 2026. 35QLeverFast SPARQL engine for very large RDF datasets, with autocompletion and text search; the repository was active in October 2026. 36OntopVirtual knowledge graph system that exposes relational databases as RDF. 37Blazegraph (archived)Former high-performance RDF store; the repository is archived and was last updated in 2023. 38Virtuoso open-source editionOpen-source Virtuoso repository. 39BrightstarDBNative RDF database for the .NET platform; its GitHub repository was last updated in May 2023, so check its status before relying on it.

Cloud, Multi-Model & Bridging RDF to Other Models

5 entries

RDF in managed and mixed environments.

40Amazon NeptuneAWS managed graph database that supports RDF with SPARQL and property graphs. 41Neptune: SPARQL accessAWS documentation on querying Neptune with SPARQL. 42neosemantics (n10s) for Neo4jNeo4j Labs toolkit for importing, exporting and validating RDF in a property graph. 43Graph DatabasesGraph databases directory on this site, including property graph engines. 44Graph Query LanguagesGQL, Cypher, Gremlin, SPARQL and more compared on this site.

Public RDF Datasets & Endpoints

6 entries

Large open knowledge graphs to practise on.

45Wikidata Query ServiceSPARQL endpoint for Wikidata. 46Wikidata SPARQL tutorialTutorial for learning SPARQL on Wikidata. 47DBpediaLinked data extracted from Wikipedia. 48Linked Open Data CloudCatalogue of linked open datasets. 49UniProt SPARQLSPARQL endpoint for protein data. 50LDBC (Graph Data Council)Benchmarks for graph data management.

Tools & Learning

6 entries

Libraries, editors and books.

51RDFLibPython library for working with RDF. 52YasguiWeb-based SPARQL query editor and result viewer. 53TriplyDBPlatform for publishing and exploring linked data. 54ProtégéOntology editor from Stanford. 55Validating RDF Data (book)Free online book on ShEx and SHACL validation. 56W3C Semantic Web toolsCommunity list of semantic web tools.

Related Pages

7 entries

Neighbouring pages on this site.

57Graph Databases GuideProperty graph vs RDF and how to choose. 58Knowledge Graphs (KGs)Knowledge graph platforms and standards. 59Graph Data PlatformsGraph analytics and managed services. 60Knowledge Engineering Start-upsStart-ups in knowledge engineering. 61Vector Databases for Enterprise AIVector search often combined with graphs. 62Advanced Architectural Patterns in GraphRAGSix patterns for retrieval with knowledge graphs. 63Generative AIGenerative AI hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an RDF triple store and a property graph database?

RDF stores data as globally identified triples and is standardised by the W3C, with SPARQL for queries and SHACL and OWL for validation and inference. A property graph attaches properties directly to nodes and edges and is queried with languages such as Cypher or GQL. See the Graph Databases Guide for a fuller comparison.

Which RDF triple store should I choose?

For enterprise reasoning and support, look at GraphDB, Stardog, AllegroGraph or RDFox. For open source, Apache Jena Fuseki, Eclipse RDF4J, Oxigraph and QLever are active choices. On AWS, Neptune supports RDF with SPARQL.

What is a semantic graph?

A graph whose nodes and edges carry formal meaning through ontologies, so software can interpret and infer from the data. RDF is the main standard for building them.

What happened to Apache Giraph?

Giraph is a graph processing system, not an RDF store. It has been retired to the Apache Attic, and the former Semantic Graphs page listed it as archived. Blazegraph's repository is also archived.

Where did the Semantic Graphs page go?

It has been merged into this page, and the old address redirects here.

Is Blazegraph still maintained?

The Blazegraph repository is archived and was last updated in 2023, so it is a risk for new projects.

What are RDF 1.2 and SPARQL 1.2?

They are the next versions of the W3C standards, adding features such as RDF-star-style statements about statements. When I checked, RDF 1.2 Concepts was a Candidate Recommendation Snapshot (April 2026) and SPARQL 1.2 Query a Working Draft (October 2026), so support varies by product.

Can I use RDF with Neo4j?

Yes, with the neosemantics (n10s) toolkit, which imports, exports and validates RDF in a property graph.

How current is this page?

Links were checked in October 2026. Standards status and product features change, so confirm details on each project's site. RDF 1.2 was a W3C Candidate Recommendation Snapshot (7 April 2026) and SPARQL 1.2 a Working Draft (11 October 2026) when I checked, so treat them as not yet final. GitHub activity dates are from the repositories' last push in October 2026. Listing is not an endorsement. Sites that block automated checks are kept and may need a manual click.