Schema

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A GConf schema is a collective term for a GConf schema key and a GConf schema object. S chema keys , schema objects , and their relationship to preference keys are defined as follows :

Preference key – An element in the GConf repository that corresponds to an application preference , for example, /desktop/gnome/interface/font_name.
Schema key – A key that stores a schema object for a preference key , for example, /schemas/desktop/gnome/interface/font_name.
Schema object – An element in a configuration source that contains the following information for a preference key:
- N ame of the application that uses the preference key
- T ype of value required for the preference key , for example, integer , boolean , and so on.
- D efault value for the preference key
- Brief documentation about the preference key
For example, the schema object for the /schemas/desktop/gnome/interface/font_name key is as follows:
```
<schema>
  <applyto>/desktop/gnome/interface/font_name</applyto>
  <key>/schemas/desktop/gnome/interface/font_name</key>
  <owner>gnome</owner>
  <type>string</type>
  <default>Sans 10</default>
  <locale name="C">
    <short>Default font</short>
    <long>Name of the default font used by gtk+.</long>
  </locale>
</schema>
```

You can associate a schema key with a preference key. For example, the /desktop/gnome/interface/font_name key includes the following schema key:

<entry name="font_name" mtime="1034873859" 
schema="/schemas/desktop/gnome/interface/font_name"/>

When you associate a schema key with a preference key, the preference uses the suggested value that is specified in the schema object of the schema key. The suggested value is contained in the <default> element in the schema object. By default, all the preference keys in the default configuration source are associated with schema keys. Typically, schemas are stored in the default configuration source.