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    Entity Linking

    Data integration & searchEntity linkEntity Disambiguation
    Editorially reviewed on: 1 source
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    The short answer · 14 words

    In short

    Entity linking assigns a text name to a specific entity in a knowledge base.

    Flow-alerta.cab (2026): Entity Linking. https://flow-alerta.cab/en/glossar/entity-linking. Editorially reviewed on: 10 October 2026.

    How much detail would you like?

    Practical

    The assignment combines unstructured texts with master data or knowledge graphs.

    Hypothetical example: “Apple” is assigned to the company in the supplier contract and not to the fruit.

    SMEs can connect documents with customer, product or supplier master data.

    At a glance

    Core
    After recognizing a mention, the system decides on the basis of the context which unique data set is meant.
    Use
    The assignment combines unstructured texts with master data or knowledge graphs.
    Example
    Hypothetical example: “Apple” is assigned to the company in the supplier contract and not to the fruit.
    Limits
    Incorrect knowledge base; obsolete IDs; ambiguity; new entities without entry; error of upstream extraction.

    In context

    Questions about this term

    What happens to unknown entities?

    The system should allow ‘non-attributable’.

    Is linking the same as NER?

    No.

    All details and background

    After recognizing a mention, the system decides on the basis of the context which unique data set is meant.

    ELI5 – Explained simply

    It clarifies which person, company or city is behind a name.

    Why it matters in practice

    The assignment combines unstructured texts with master data or knowledge graphs.

    Example

    Hypothetical example: “Apple” is assigned to the company in the supplier contract and not to the fruit.

    Pitfalls and limits

    • Incorrect knowledge base; obsolete IDs; ambiguity; new entities without entry; error of upstream extraction.

    Origin & history

    Entity linking developed as a task of disambiguation and linking of text references to knowledge bases; the EMNLP work by Wang et al. describes a cross-domain procedure in 2015.

    Use in mid-sized companies

    • SMEs can connect documents with customer, product or supplier master data.

    Sources

    Quellenprüfung: 10.10.2026. Definition und dokumentierte Einordnung abgeglichen; Beispiele beschreiben mögliche Anwendungen.

    Editorially reviewed on:

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