{"id":"linked-art/api/sets","relativePath":"linked-art/api/sets.md","title":"Linked Art API: Sets","markdown":"# Linked Art API: Sets\n\n**Last refreshed:** 2026-07-06\n\nSource: [Sets endpoint](https://linked.art/api/1.0/endpoint/set/), part of Linked Art API 1.0, published under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This is a project summary; the upstream page is authoritative.\n\n## Purpose\n\nThe Set endpoint describes sets or collections of entities, especially objects, texts, images, concepts, and other resources. Sets can describe collections, exhibition object groups, archival groupings, auction lots, concept schemes, and similar aggregations.\n\nImportant Linked Art API boundary: the Set endpoint does not list all members because those lists can be very long. Individual entities point to their sets with `member_of`; member discovery belongs to search or other implementation-specific APIs.\n\n## Required Shape\n\nA Set endpoint record dereferences to one JSON-LD object:\n\n- `@context`: Linked Art context URI, or an array ending with that URI for extensions.\n- `id`: dereferenceable HTTP(S) URI for the set.\n- `type`: `Set`.\n\n## Recommended Fields\n\n- `_label`: developer-facing label.\n- `classified_as`: classifications following the `Type` structure, such as collection, archival group, auction lot, or concept scheme.\n- `identified_by`: `Name` and/or `Identifier` structures.\n\n## Optional Fields\n\n- `referred_to_by`: statements about the set.\n- `equivalent`: external identities.\n- `representation`: visual works representing the set.\n- `member_of`: broader set membership.\n- `subject_of`: textual works focused on the set.\n- `attributed_by`: relationship assignment evidence.\n- `dimension`: dimensions such as total member count.\n- `about`: entity that the set is primarily about.\n- `members_exemplified_by`: sample or exemplary member structures or references.\n- `members_contained_by`: physical object that contains physical members of the set.\n- `created_by`: `Creation` event for the set.\n- `used_for`: publication or similar activity.\n\n## Common Incoming Relationships\n\n- `member_of` from entities other than people or groups. People and groups use `Group` membership instead.\n- `used_specific_object` from events or activities that use sets of things, such as exhibition object sets or auction lots.\n\n## Meta Museum Notes\n\nMeta Museum already exposes sets through `/api/sets/{id}` and preserves full `Set` records through `/api/records/{id}`. Existing coverage proves exhibition-object sets, concept-scheme sets, archival hierarchy sets, auction lot sets, `member_of` links on member records, `members_contained_by` physical-container alignment, `members_exemplified_by` collective descriptions, and `Set` semantic `Creation` activity rows. The project intentionally avoids inventing inverse `member[]` lists on set records when the source does not provide them.\n\n## Test Ideas\n\n- Keep `/api/sets/{id}` role coverage aligned with `Set`.\n- Preserve a `Set` fixture with `classified_as`, `identified_by`, `referred_to_by`, `dimension`, `about`, `created_by`, and `used_for`.\n- Preserve `member_of` on object, concept, digital object, textual work, and nested set records.\n- Preserve `members_contained_by` and `members_exemplified_by` without fabricating exhaustive members.\n- Preserve `used_specific_object` references to sets for exhibitions and auction lots.\n","sections":[{"level":2,"heading":"Purpose","anchor":"purpose"},{"level":2,"heading":"Required Shape","anchor":"required-shape"},{"level":2,"heading":"Recommended Fields","anchor":"recommended-fields"},{"level":2,"heading":"Optional Fields","anchor":"optional-fields"},{"level":2,"heading":"Common Incoming Relationships","anchor":"common-incoming-relationships"},{"level":2,"heading":"Meta Museum Notes","anchor":"meta-museum-notes"},{"level":2,"heading":"Test Ideas","anchor":"test-ideas"}],"html":"<h1 id=\"linked-art-api-sets\">Linked Art API: Sets</h1>\n<p><strong>Last refreshed:</strong> 2026-07-06</p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https://linked.art/api/1.0/endpoint/set/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"doc-link\">Sets endpoint</a>, part of Linked Art API 1.0, published under <a href=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"doc-link\">CC BY 4.0</a>. This is a project summary; the upstream page is authoritative.</p>\n<h2 id=\"purpose\">Purpose</h2>\n<p>The Set endpoint describes sets or collections of entities, especially objects, texts, images, concepts, and other resources. Sets can describe collections, exhibition object groups, archival groupings, auction lots, concept schemes, and similar aggregations.</p>\n<p>Important Linked Art API boundary: the Set endpoint does not list all members because those lists can be very long. Individual entities point to their sets with `member_of`; member discovery belongs to search or other implementation-specific APIs.</p>\n<h2 id=\"required-shape\">Required Shape</h2>\n<p>A Set endpoint record dereferences to one JSON-LD object:</p>\n<ul><li>`@context`: Linked Art context URI, or an array ending with that URI for extensions.</li><li>`id`: dereferenceable HTTP(S) URI for the set.</li><li>`type`: `Set`.</li></ul>\n<h2 id=\"recommended-fields\">Recommended Fields</h2>\n<ul><li>`_label`: developer-facing label.</li><li>`classified_as`: classifications following the `Type` structure, such as collection, archival group, auction lot, or concept scheme.</li><li>`identified_by`: `Name` and/or `Identifier` structures.</li></ul>\n<h2 id=\"optional-fields\">Optional Fields</h2>\n<ul><li>`referred_to_by`: statements about the set.</li><li>`equivalent`: external identities.</li><li>`representation`: visual works representing the set.</li><li>`member_of`: broader set membership.</li><li>`subject_of`: textual works focused on the set.</li><li>`attributed_by`: relationship assignment evidence.</li><li>`dimension`: dimensions such as total member count.</li><li>`about`: entity that the set is primarily about.</li><li>`members_exemplified_by`: sample or exemplary member structures or references.</li><li>`members_contained_by`: physical object that contains physical members of the set.</li><li>`created_by`: `Creation` event for the set.</li><li>`used_for`: publication or similar activity.</li></ul>\n<h2 id=\"common-incoming-relationships\">Common Incoming Relationships</h2>\n<ul><li>`member_of` from entities other than people or groups. People and groups use `Group` membership instead.</li><li>`used_specific_object` from events or activities that use sets of things, such as exhibition object sets or auction lots.</li></ul>\n<h2 id=\"meta-museum-notes\">Meta Museum Notes</h2>\n<p>Meta Museum already exposes sets through `/api/sets/{id}` and preserves full `Set` records through `/api/records/{id}`. Existing coverage proves exhibition-object sets, concept-scheme sets, archival hierarchy sets, auction lot sets, `member_of` links on member records, `members_contained_by` physical-container alignment, `members_exemplified_by` collective descriptions, and `Set` semantic `Creation` activity rows. The project intentionally avoids inventing inverse `member[]` lists on set records when the source does not provide them.</p>\n<h2 id=\"test-ideas\">Test Ideas</h2>\n<ul><li>Keep `/api/sets/{id}` role coverage aligned with `Set`.</li><li>Preserve a `Set` fixture with `classified_as`, `identified_by`, `referred_to_by`, `dimension`, `about`, `created_by`, and `used_for`.</li><li>Preserve `member_of` on object, concept, digital object, textual work, and nested set records.</li><li>Preserve `members_contained_by` and `members_exemplified_by` without fabricating exhaustive members.</li><li>Preserve `used_specific_object` references to sets for exhibitions and auction lots.</li></ul>","updatedAt":"2026-07-06T00:00:00.000Z","checksum":"17aaf803945ceebb2f5c382c7ae757ab821be4eba6cec62f209598f68ac1f30b","checksumPrefix":"17aaf803945c","anchorCount":7,"lineCount":58,"rawUrl":"/api/docs/content?path=linked-art%2Fapi%2Fsets.md","htmlUrl":"/docs?doc=linked-art%2Fapi%2Fsets.md","apiUrl":"/api/docs/content?path=linked-art%2Fapi%2Fsets.md"}