#1174: WG Revision: SHACL 1.2 SPARQL

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Opened Dec 1, 2025

Specification

https://w3c.github.io/data-shapes/shacl12-sparql/

Explainer

https://w3c.github.io/data-shapes/shacl12-overview/#whatsnew

Links

Feature 1:
Cleaner Separation between Core and SPARQL
We now have a cleaner separation of Core and SPARQL concerns into separate specifications. This helps indicate SHACL Core is not dependent on SPARQL, clarify other dependencies, and make some implementations easier.

The specification

Where and by whom is the work is being done?

  • GitHub repo: https://github.com/w3c/data-shapes/
  • Primary contacts:
    • @HolgerKnublauch, Top Quadrant, main editor
    • @ashleysommer, Aust. Government, DCCEEW, secondary editor
    • @nicholascar, KurrawongAI, WG co-chair
    • @PapoutsoglouE, Y.digital, WG co-chair
  • Organization/project driving the specification: Top Quadrant, Aust. Gov., KurrawongAI, Y.digital, INRIA
  • This work is being funded by: in-kind only from editors' & co-charis' orgs
  • Primary standards group developing this feature: Data Shapes WG
  • Incubation and standards groups that have discussed the design: This is build on top of RDF 1.2 work and we have members in common with that WG and discussed it with them

Feedback so far

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Discussions

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Discussed Dec 8, 2025 (See Github)

Skipped

Discussed Jan 19, 2026 (See Github)

Sarven: Review SHACL 1.2 Core. I'll do this next.

Discussed Jan 26, 2026 (See Github)

Sarven: https://github.com/w3ctag/design-reviews-private-brainstorming/issues/229#issuecomment-3797145530

Sarven: They're splitting the core part from the extensions (SHACL). The changelog didn't show anything new, so looks like it is just a re-org. SHACL will be an optional extension. In and of itself there don't seem to be any new normative requirements.

Martin: Did you confirm with them?

Sarven: Not yet

Martin: May be worth making that the review - doesn't look like any changes, but checking with them.

Hadley: If that is the sum-total of what they have done, I don't have an opinion.

Sarven: Will add a sentence as suggested, but will go ahead.

Hadley: Think so, but maybe don't conclude the review until they've come back to confirm. You could just put the question in first.

Sarven: Will check on the re-shuflling and open up the question for them.

Comment by @csarven Jan 29, 2026 (See Github)

The TAG thanks the Data Shapes WG for requesting this review.

The TAG notes that separating the SPARQL parts from SHACL Core is a reasonable direction to simplify implementations and testing, while also supporting future extensibility of SHACL extensions. Based on the change history, no new features or normative changes affecting web architecture were noted, so a full TAG review is not required at this time. If there are however significant changes that the WG would like TAG's review on, we'd be happy to.

Discussed Feb 2, 2026 (See Github)

Sarven: We responded, no feedback from the group.

Sarven to close.