Description logics are embodied in several knowledge-based systems and are used to develop various real-life applications. Now in paperback, The Description Logic Handbook provides a thorough account of the subject, covering all aspects of research in this field, namely: theory, implementation, and applications. Its appeal will be broad, ranging from more theoretically oriented readers, to those with more practically oriented interests who need a sound and modern understanding of knowledge representation systems based on description logics. As well as general revision throughout the book, this new edition presents a new chapter on ontology languages for the semantic web, an area of great importance for the future development of the web. In sum, the book will serve as a unique resource for the subject, and can also be used for self-study or as a reference for knowledge representation and artificial intelligence courses.

Now available in paperback, The Description Logic Handbook is the definitive reference and study guide for researchers in the field of knowledge representation. As well as general revision throughout the book, this new edition presents a new chapter on ontology languages for the semantic web.

1. An introduction to description logics D. Nardi and R. J. Brachman; Part I. Theory: 2. Basic description logics F. Baader and W. Nutt; 3. Complexity of reasoning F. M. Donini; 4. Relationships with other formalisms U. Sattler, D. Calvanese and R. Molitor; 5. Expressive description logics D. Calvanese and G. De Giacomo; 6. Extensions to description logics F. Baader, R. Küsters and F. Wolter; Part II. Implementation: 7. From description logic provers to knowledge representation systems D. L. McGuinness and P. F. Patel-Schneider; 8. Description logics systems R. Möller and V. Haarslev; 9. Implementation and optimisation techniques I. Horrocks; Part III. Applications: 10. Conceptual modeling with description logics A. Borgida and R. J. Brachman; 11. Software engineering C. Welty; 12. Configuration D. L. McGuinness; 13. Medical informatics A. Rector; 14. Ontology languages for the semantic web I. Horrocks, P. F. Patel-Schneider, D. L. McGuinness and C. Welty; 15. Natural language processing E. Franconi; 16. Description logics for data bases A. Borgida, M. Lenzerini and R. Rosati; Appendix. Description logic terminology F. Baader; Bibliography.