Metamodels and Category Theory in the Transformation of Semi-structured Data

Models' transformations involve code abstraction and program description, i.e., models' transformations (MTs) operate in a more diverse set of artifacts than program transformation. Note that MTs allow programmers to link different structures, as Category Theory does for Mathematics, through recognizing similar features and properties. In this paper, we show that Category Theory can be used to describe MTs. Specifically, we propose a categorical framework for transforming a semi-structured data model, an OEM database, into a model of structured data, in UML language. This categorical approach allows us to establish a bridge between such models and the categories of simple and directed graphs, which makes it possible to apply the features of such categories to manage databases.