A report, a drawing, a P&ID diagram, a purchase order, a certificate, a database, a database record, a measurement datum, a unit of measure, an identifier, an algorithm, a programming language.
The BFO class 'generically dependent continuant' represents the notion of a pattern that exists in at least one copy, e.g., "the sequence of this protein molecule". This is more general than 'information object', and not at present included in IDO. 'information object' is a subclass, with the added condition that the pattern 'is about' something.
A common application of 'information object' is in representing facts about the vocabulary of the ontology itself. The OWL facility of "punning" treats OWL classes and properties as OWL individuals, enabling OWL object properties to be applied to them. In use cases that involve punning, the SKOS vocabulary is recommended to be used, with the SKOS classes 'concept', 'concept scheme', and 'collection' as subclasses of 'information object'.
