Ontology什麼意思

"Ontology" is a term from philosophy, particularly from metaphysics, that refers to the study of existence, being, or reality. It explores the nature of what is and what can be, and how different entities fit into a hierarchy of being. In this sense, it is concerned with the fundamental categories of being and their relations.

In a more general sense, the term "ontology" can also refer to a classification of entities and their properties within a particular domain of knowledge. For example, in computer science and artificial intelligence, an ontology is a formal representation of a shared domain of knowledge, which can be used to provide a common understanding of the terms and relationships used within that domain.

In this context, an ontology might include definitions of concepts, relationships between those concepts, and rules about how to apply those concepts and relationships. This can be used to help computers understand and process information about a particular domain, and can also be used to facilitate communication and collaboration between people who are working with that information.