[DSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING] [DSI:NAME=THE_6_SEMANTIC_ANCHORS_OVERVIEW;ROLE=LEARNING;AUTHOR=SIMON_MACFARLANE;VERSION=1_0] [DSM:SYSTEM=SEMANTIC_BINDING;AUDIENCE=PUBLIC,PROFESSIONAL,AUTHORING_SYSTEMS]
Page 3.0 — The Six Semantic Anchors
[SSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING.SEMANTIC_ANCHORS.DEFINITION.CANONICAL.3-0-0] [SSI:TITLE=WHAT_ARE_SEMANTIC_ANCHORS;AUTHORITY=PRIMARY;REF=3-0-0] [SSM:SECTION=DEFINITION;INTENT=DEFINITION;ABSTRACTION=HIGH]
3.0.0 — What Semantic Anchors Are
Semantic Anchors are a fixed set of explicit declarations that bind meaning, identity, intent, and usage constraints to written content.
They replace inferred meaning with author-declared semantic contracts that systems and AI agents can obey deterministically.
Semantic Anchors exist at two levels:
- Document-level anchors, which declare what a document is and the context in which it applies
- Section-level anchors, which declare what each section means and how it may be used
Together, the anchors ensure that content can be:
- retrieved without intent drift
- reused without abstraction leakage
- reasoned over without inference
- audited and explained reliably
Without semantic anchors, systems guess.
With semantic anchors, systems comply.
[SSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING.SEMANTIC_ANCHORS.PURPOSE.RATIONALE.3-0-1] [SSI:TITLE=PURPOSE_OF_SEMANTIC_ANCHORS;AUTHORITY=PRIMARY;REF=3-0-1] [SSM:SECTION=CONCEPT;INTENT=PURPOSE;ABSTRACTION=HIGH]
3.0.1 - Purpose of Semantic Anchors
Semantic Binding replaces inference with declaration.
The Six Semantic Anchors exist to ensure that meaning, identity, intent, and usage constraints are explicitly authored, not guessed by systems or AI agents.
Together, the anchors form a semantic contract between:
- the author, who declares meaning
- the system, which enforces structure and scope
- the AI agent, which retrieves and reasons over content
Without anchors, systems infer intent.
With anchors, behaviour is deterministic, auditable, and explainable.
[SSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING.SEMANTIC_ANCHORS.JUSTIFICATION.PROBLEM_STATEMENT.3-0-2] [SSI:TITLE=WHY_SEMANTIC_ANCHORS_ARE_REQUIRED;AUTHORITY=PRIMARY;REF=3-0-2] [SSM:SECTION=CONCEPT;INTENT=RATIONALE;ABSTRACTION=HIGH]
3.0.2 - Why Semantic Anchors Are Required
Traditional documents rely on headings, layout, and prose to imply meaning.
This breaks down when content is:
- chunked
- vectorised
- retrieved out of order
- summarised
- reused across systems
- or acted on by AI
Semantic Anchors eliminate ambiguity by declaring:
- what content is about
- what role it plays
- how it may be interpreted
- and how safely it may be used
Anchors ensure that meaning survives extraction.
[SSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING.SEMANTIC_ANCHORS.COMPOSITION.INTERACTION_MODEL.3-0-3] [SSI:TITLE=HOW_THE_ANCHORS_WORK_TOGETHER;AUTHORITY=PRIMARY;REF=3-0-3] [SSM:SECTION=MODEL;INTENT=MODEL;ABSTRACTION=HIGH]
3.0.3 - How the Anchors Work Together
The Six Semantic Anchors operate across two layers:
Document-Level Anchors
These define the global semantic envelope of a document.
They answer:
- What is this document about?
- What is its identity?
- In what context does it apply?
Section-Level Anchors
These define local semantic behaviour.
They answer:
- What is this section about?
- Why does it exist?
- How concrete is it allowed to be?
Together, the anchors form a single behavioural contract.
No anchor operates in isolation.
[SSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING.SEMANTIC_ANCHORS.DEFINITION.CANONICAL.3-0-4] [SSI:TITLE=THE_SIX_SEMANTIC_ANCHORS;AUTHORITY=PRIMARY;REF=3-0-4] [SSM:SECTION=DEFINITION;INTENT=DEFINITION;ABSTRACTION=HIGH]
3.0.4 — What the 6 Semantic Anchors Are
The six semantic anchors are the mandatory structural declarations that make Semantic Binding interpretable and enforceable.
They exist at two levels:
Document-Level Anchors
| Anchor | Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| DSB | Document Semantic Binding | Declares what the document is about |
| DSI | Document Semantic Identity | Declares document identity and lifecycle |
| DSM | Document Semantic Metadata | Declares contextual constraints |
Section-Level Anchors
| Anchor | Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| SSB | Section Semantic Binding | Declares section meaning |
| SSI | Section Semantic Identity | Declares section identity |
| SSM | Section Semantic Metadata | Declares section behaviour |
Each anchor is mandatory at its level.
Together, these anchors ensure that both documents and sections have:
- declared semantic position (binding),
- stable identity (identity),
- and enforceable constraints (metadata).
[SSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING.SEMANTIC_ANCHORS.RECAP.SUMMARY.3-0-5] [SSI:TITLE=SUMMARY;AUTHORITY=SECONDARY;REF=3-0-5] [SSM:SECTION=SUMMARY;INTENT=SUMMARY;ABSTRACTION=HIGH]
3.0.5 - Summary
The Six Semantic Anchors define the semantic contract at the core of Semantic Binding.
They ensure that meaning, identity, intent, and usage constraints are:
- explicitly declared by the author
- structurally enforceable by systems
- reliably interpretable by AI agents
This document establishes that:
- meaning must be declared at both document and section levels
- no semantic unit is valid without its full set of anchors
- anchors work collectively, not independently
- behaviour emerges from declared structure, not inferred context
The anchors exist to ensure that meaning survives chunking, retrieval, reuse, and automation.
Without anchors, systems guess.
With anchors, systems comply.
This page defines what the anchors are and why they exist.
Subsequent documents define how to author with them, how to enforce them, and how systems must obey them.
[SSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING.SEMANTIC_ANCHORS.LIFECYCLE.STATUS.3-0-6] [SSI:TITLE=STATUS;AUTHORITY=SECONDARY;REF=3-0-6] [SSM:SECTION=STATUS;INTENT=STATUS;ABSTRACTION=LOW]
3.0.6 - Status
The Six Semantic Anchors are active and mandatory.
They form the authoritative semantic contract for all Semantic Binding documents and systems.