Accessing different application data via a common data structure

A common data type structure can be used to correlate access requests between applications that implement data in accordance with different types or type structures. In one implementation, a common data structure includes schemes for operations, sequences, records, and atoms (i.e., undefined). The system can then map any type structure to the schemes of the common data structure. In operation, a request for data by an application can involve identifying one or more proxies used by an application to map the data to the common data structure. The proxies map the data to the common data structure based on the shape of the data (to the extent it can be identified). The proxies then can return one or more data structures that comprise the identified mapping information. The application can then perform operations directly on the received data structures.