Discover a hierarchy of the available entity types and their descriptions.
Entity types correspond to classes defined in the WorldCat ontology model. Each entity has a type that determines the details and information that can be associated with it. Entity types in OCLC Meridian are organized in a hierarchical model in which certain entity types have subtypes that allow for more granular description. For example, the Music entity type is a subtype of Sound. For more information, see the WorldCat ontology guidelines and standards and the WorldCat ontology primer.
The available entity types are described in further detail in the table below, and organized to match their hierarchical structure.
| Entity Type |
Details |
| Agent (default) |
Entity capable of performing actions.
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|
Subtypes of Agent
| Entity subtype |
Details |
| Person |
Individual Human (alive or dead). |
| Family |
Group of persons with shared kinship. |
| Organization |
Entity that is structured and/or managed to meet a need or to pursue collective goals. |
|
| Event |
A specific happening that occurs or occurred at a defined time and location. |
| Place |
Terrestrial or non-terrestrial location.
|
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Subtypes of Place
| Entity subtype |
Details |
| Administrative Area |
Place(s) with a fixed location and extent which are under the jurisdiction of a governmental body. |
| Landform |
Geographic formation. |
|
| Work |
Distinct artistic or intellectual creation expressed through one or more content types.
Note: Work type entities, and all subtypes of Work, can only be created by OCLC staff.
|
|
Subtypes of Work
| Entity subtype |
Details |
| Cartographic Material |
Representation of a geographical area. |
| Collection |
Aggregation of intentionally gathered resources.
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Subtypes of Collection
| Entity subtype |
Details |
| Archival Collection |
Collection works stored for the purpose of preservation. |
| Continuing Resource |
Collection of works that has a unifying title and whose parts are issued over time.
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Subtypes of Continuing Resource
| Entity subtype |
Details |
| Integrating Resource |
Collection of works that has a unifying title and whose parts are issued with updates that are integrated into the whole. |
| Serial |
Collection of works that has a unifying title and has successive and discrete parts that are issued over time with no predetermined conclusion. |
|
| Festschrift |
Collection of works intended to honor the achievements or contributions of a person to a specific discipline. |
| Series |
Collection of works that has a unifying title, made up of multiple parts, often with unique titles, issued successively or simultaneously. |
|
| Dataset |
Collection of structured data organized around a particular topic or purpose. |
| Image |
Resource intended to be perceived visually.
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Subtypes of Image
| Entity subtype |
Details |
| Moving Image |
Sequence of images that convey the impression of movement. |
| Still Image |
Static and intentional visual representation in two dimensions, such as photographs and paintings. |
|
| Interactive Resource |
Resource which can only be realized through user interaction. |
| Notated Movement |
Graphic representation of movement which is intended for the study and performance of a work based on movement, such as dance. |
| Notated Music |
Graphic representation of a musical work which is intended for the study and performance of the musical work. |
| Physical Object |
Singular and coherent aggregation of material which exists in three dimensions. |
| Software |
Non-tangible executable component of a computer. |
| Sound |
Resource intended to be perceived audibly.
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Subtypes of Sound
| Entity subtype |
Details |
| Music |
Intentional organization of tones with characteristics such as pitch and timbre produced by instruments or vocalization which can be controlled by a performer. |
|
| Text |
Sequence of symbols intended to convey language which can be perceived by a reader. |
| Website |
Web pages served from a single web domain. |
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