SPARQL is a recursive acronym standing for SPARQL Protocol and RDF Query Language. As the name implies, SPARQL is a general term for both a protocol and a query language.
Most uses of the SPARQL acronym refer to the RDF query language. In this usage, SPARQL is a syntactically-SQL-like language for querying RDF graphs via pattern matching. The language's features include basic conjunctive patterns, value filters, optional patterns, and pattern disjunction.
The SPARQL protocol is a method for remote invocation of SPARQL queries. It specifies a simple interface that can be supported via HTTP or SOAP that a client can use to issue SPARQL queries against some endpoint.
Both the SPARQL query language and the SPARQL protocol are products of the W3C's RDF Data Access Working Group.
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