Overview
DTL (Domain Transport Language) is a next-generation data format that combines the simplicity of CSV with the power of schema validation, cryptographic security, and blockchain integration. Unlike JSON or XML, DTL is designed from the ground up for:
Ultra-Compact
40-60% smaller than JSON. Perfect for bandwidth-constrained environments.
Cryptographic
Built-in BLAKE3 hashing, Ed25519 signatures, and row-level integrity.
Schema-Driven
Self-describing format with inline schema and enum validation.
DTL File Structure
Every DTL file consists of two header lines followed by one or more tables:
# Header Line 1: Version, Domain, Profile, Compression, Security, Web3, Checksum @dtlv1.0^dtHC^pMedical^c0^s1^w0^checksum # Header Line 2: Security details @sec^blake3^wallet_address^signature^chain_id # Tables: NAME|schema|row_count|Security|Web3|Compression TABLE_NAME|field1:type,field2:type|count|S0|W0|C0 value1|value2 value1|value2
Type System
DTL supports 10 data types including the powerful Enum type for exact-match validation:
| Type | Name | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
s |
String | UTF-8 text (no pipe characters) | Hello World |
i |
Integer | Whole numbers | 42, -100 |
f |
Float | Decimal numbers | 3.14159 |
b |
Boolean | 0 or 1 only | 1 |
D |
Date | YYYY-MM-DD format | 2025-01-03 |
T |
Timestamp | ISO 8601 with timezone | 2025-01-03T14:30:00Z |
u |
UUID | Unique identifier | 550e8400-e29b... |
j |
JSON | Embedded JSON object | {"key":"value"} |
a(x) |
Array | Comma-separated list of type x | a,b,c |
e(...) |
Enum | Exact match only! Any values up to 10 | e(low,medium,high) |
Enum Type - The Power Feature
The e(val1,val2,...) type is one of DTL's most powerful features. It allows you to define a field that only accepts specific values - perfect for status codes, categories, roles, and more.
Up to 10 comma-separated values. Not just gender - use for status, priority, roles, currencies, sizes, ratings, and any categorical data.
# Workflow status status:e(pending,processing,shipped,delivered,cancelled) # Priority levels priority:e(low,medium,high,critical) # User roles role:e(admin,user,guest,moderator,super) # Currency codes currency:e(USD,EUR,AED,GBP,JPY,CNY) # Sizes size:e(XS,S,M,L,XL,XXL) # Ratings rating:e(1,2,3,4,5) # HTTP methods method:e(GET,POST,PUT,DELETE,PATCH) # Environment env:e(dev,staging,prod,test)
Complete Example
@dtlv1.0^dtHC^pHospital^c0^s1^w0^abc123 @sec^blake3^0x0^none^0 # Patient records with enum validation PATIENTS|id:s,name:s,gender:e(M,F,O),dob:D,blood:e(A+,A-,B+,B-,AB+,AB-,O+,O-),active:b|3|S1|W0|C0 P001|Ahmed Ali|M|1990-05-15|O+|1 P002|Sara Khan|F|1985-08-22|A-|1 P003|John Smith|M|1978-12-03|B+|0 # Appointments with status workflow APPOINTMENTS|id:s,patient:s,doctor:s,date:D,status:e(scheduled,confirmed,completed,cancelled)|2|S0|W0|C0 A001|P001|Dr. Hassan|2025-01-10|scheduled A002|P002|Dr. Fatima|2025-01-08|confirmed
Why Choose DTL?
🏥 Healthcare
HIPAA-ready with encryption, audit trails, and medical enum codes (blood types, gender, status).
💰 Finance
Currency validation, transaction status tracking, and cryptographic integrity for audit compliance.
🤖 AI/ML
Compact format ideal for training data, with enum-validated labels and categories.
⛓️ Web3
Built-in wallet signatures, blockchain anchoring, and decentralized identity support.