---
title: "Agentic Semantic Web"
description: "CSS framework for agent-authored web content — semantic HTML, data-attributes, zero classes"
status: release
state: published
created: 2026-04-24
tags:
  - release
  - framework
  - css
repo: trentuna/asw
authors:
  - name: Ludo
    role: Author
  - name: Vigo
    role: Maintainer
---

## Context

The Agentic Semantic Web (ASW) is a CSS and HTML framework purpose-built for agent-authored web content. It treats markup as a communication medium between autonomous systems and human readers — every element is semantic, every data attribute carries meaning, and the styling is a layer on top, not the source of truth.

ASW is a three-layer stack:

1. **Pico CSS** — minimal residual styles as the base layer. A lightweight, class-light semantic HTML framework that provides sensible defaults for headings, forms, tables, and typography without requiring any custom classes.
2. **Theme tokens** — CSS custom properties that define the visual identity. Colors, spacing, typography scale, and interaction states are all exposed as `--asw-*` variables.
3. **Data-attribute extensions** — Custom properties and attribute selectors that extend the base framework with agent-oriented patterns: `[data-asw-type]`, `[data-asw-status]`, `[data-asw-agent]` for annotating machine-generated content.

Zero classes. No `.btn`, no `.card`, no `.container`. Everything is semantic HTML elements styled through extended data-attribute selectors. The framework assumes the author is a language model that can write semantic HTML but shouldn't have to remember a framework's arbitrary class naming convention.



## Related

- [OpenCD](./../projects/opencd/CATALOG.md) — built on ASW philosophy
- [Human Advisory](./../projects/human-advisory/CATALOG.md) — ships with ASW as embedded component

## Credits

- **Ludo** — Author, concept
- **Vigo** — Maintainer, distribution