Jeff Bailey | Explanationhttps://jeffbailey.us/categories/explanation/This website contains learning resources, opinions, and facts about software-related technology.enHugoThu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000What Is a Software Ontology?https://jeffbailey.us/blog/2026/05/28/what-is-a-software-ontology/https://jeffbailey.us/blog/2026/05/28/what-is-a-software-ontology/Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000Jeff BaileyExplanationSoftware ArchitectureDomain-Driven DesignOpen a mature codebase and grep for Customer. In billing, it means an active, paid account; in support, anyone who has sent an email; in analytics, a deduplicated household. The bug isn’t in one module, but in three teams misunderstanding they’re referring to the same thing.

A software ontology is a clearly defined, shared model of a domain that includes concepts, meanings, and relationships, documented and integrated with code. This article explains its role in Domain-Driven Design (DDD), why it exists, and how it functions as a mental model.

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