Description logics (DLs) have a long tradition in computer science and knowledge representation, being designed so that domain knowledge can be described and so that computers can reason about this knowledge. DLs have recently gained increased importance since they form the logical basis of widely used ontology languages, in particular the web ontology language OWL. Written by four renowned experts, this is the first textbook on description logics. It is suitable for self-study by graduates and as the basis for a university course. Starting from a basic DL, the book introduces the reader to their syntax, semantics, reasoning problems and model theory and discusses the computational complexity of these reasoning problems and algorithms to solve them. It then explores a variety of reasoning techniques, knowledge-based applications and tools and it describes the relationship between DLs and OWL.

The first introductory textbook on description logics, relevant to computer science, knowledge representation and the semantic web.

About the Author
Franz Baader is a professor in the Institute of Theoretical Computer Science at Technische Universitat, Dresden. Ian Horrocks is a professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Oxford. Carsten Lutz is a professor in the Department of Computer Science at Universitat Bremen. Uli Sattler is a professor in the Information Management Group within the School of Computer Science at the University of Manchester.


Book Information
ISBN 9780521695428
Author Franz Baader
Format Paperback
Page Count 260
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 390g
Dimensions(mm) 228mm * 152mm * 15mm