An OSLC Link is a link between two elements that belong to different applications. Typically, when an OSLC Link is created from Application A to Application B, a back link is created (automatically) from Application B to Application A, so both elements may have a way to navigate to each other. In this scenario, where a link can exist either because it was created on its own, or because it was created as the back link of the other link, it is often useful to distinguish their nature with a role name:

• Outgoing link: is the OSLC Link that was created on its own.
• Incoming link: is the OSLC Link that was created as the back link of the other link.

Henceforth, when an OSLC Link in ${local-app} is said to be an outgoing link, it means it is a link whose creation was triggered from ${local-app} (creating a back link on the OSLC Remote Application), whereas if it is an incoming link it means it is a link that was created as back link on ${local-app} (due to a creation triggered from the OSLC Remote Application).