SPARQL Protocol And RDF Query Language (SPARQL) is an acronym standing in for both the query language itself, and the [ddsf:private:cookbook:06_append:glossary:p:protocol|protocol]] through which operators use it. Human operators use SPARQL to make queries and retrieve information from data that is stored in a Resource Description Framework (RDF) format. RDF is a standard designed by the W3C for the exchange of data over the internet.