Canonical XML Topic Maps (CXTM) will define a means to express a topic map processed according to the processing rules defined in ISO 13250-2: Topic Maps — Data Model [DM] in a canonical form. The canonicalisation will be based on the model defined by ISO 13250-2 and henceforth referred to as the Topic Maps Data Model. Such a canonical form will enable the instance of the Topic Maps Data Model constructed by one topic map processor to be directly compared to that constructed by another topic map processor.

This document will define the requirements for the CXTM specification and is intended as a guide to the principles which should be applied in the development of the specification.