Storage and retrieval of structured content in unstructured user-editable content stores

A method of facilitating structured data in a content store, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a notebook application, an indication to store a visual content that is unstructured, the visual content comprising text, or images, or handwritten ink strokes, or a combination thereof;
• determining one or more content containers for the visual content;
• determining structured data associated with the visual content, wherein the structured data comprises entities identified from sources including a dictionary;
• assigning semantic notation representative of the structured data to at least one of the one or more content containers, wherein the semantic notation indicates a structured data type for a corresponding entity identified in the structured data, wherein the semantic notation is separate from an information aspect and a formatting aspect of the visual content;
• storing the visual content and the at least one of the one or more content containers with the semantic notation in the content store;
• receiving, from a first content application, a modification to a particular visual content having an associated semantic notation, the modification comprising an edit to an arbitrary location, the semantic notation remaining on an associated content container regardless of the modification to the particular visual content;
• in response to receiving, from a second application, a request for the particular visual content, querying the content store for the particular visual content;
• and
• providing, to the content application, the particular visual content having the modification and the semantic notation associated therewith.