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A '''knowledge base''' or knowledgebase (also KB or kb) is a special kind of database for [[knowledge]] management. A knowledge base is an [[information]] repository that provides a means for information to be collected, [[organized]], [[shared]], searched and utilized. It can be either machine-readable or intended for [[human]] use.

A '''knowledge base''' or knowledgebase (also KB or kb) is a special kind of database for [[knowledge]] management. A knowledge base is an [[information]] repository that provides a means for information to be collected, [[organized]], [[shared]], searched and utilized. It can be either machine-readable or intended for [[human]] use.

Machine-readable ''knowledge base''s store knowledge in a [[computer]]-readable form, usually for the [[purpose]] of having automated [[deductive]] reasoning applied to them. They contain a set of [[data]], often in the form of rules that describe the knowledge in a logically consistent manner. An [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontology_(computer_science) ontology] can define the [[structure]] of stored data - what types of entities are recorded and what their [[relationships]] are. Logical operators, such as And (conjunction), Or (disjunction), [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Material_conditional material implication] and negation may be used to build it up from simpler pieces of information. Consequently, classical deduction can be used to reason about the knowledge in the knowledge base. Some machine-readable knowledge bases are used with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence artificial intelligence], for example as part of an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expert_system expert system] that focuses on a domain like prescription [[drugs]] or customs law. Such knowledge bases are also used by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantic_web semantic web].

Machine-readable ''knowledge base''s store knowledge in a [[computer]]-readable form, usually for the [[purpose]] of having automated [[deductive]] reasoning applied to them. They contain a set of [[data]], often in the form of rules that describe the knowledge in a logically consistent manner. An [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontology_(computer_science) ontology] can define the [[structure]] of stored data - what types of entities are recorded and what their [[relationships]] are. Logical operators, such as And (conjunction), Or (disjunction), [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Material_conditional material implication] and negation may be used to build it up from simpler pieces of information. Consequently, classical deduction can be used to reason about the knowledge in the knowledge base. Some machine-readable knowledge bases are used with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence artificial intelligence], for example as part of an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expert_system expert system] that focuses on a domain like prescription [[drugs]] or customs law. Such knowledge bases are also used by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantic_web semantic web].

Human-readable ''knowledge base''s are designed to enable people to retrieve and use the [[knowledge]] they contain. They are commonly used to [[complement]] a help desk or for [[sharing]] information among employees within an [[organization]]. They might store troubleshooting information, articles, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper white papers], user manuals, knowledge tags, or answers to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequently_asked_questions frequently asked questions]. Typically, a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engine search engine] is used to locate information in the system, or users may browse through a [[classification]] scheme.

Human-readable ''knowledge base''s are designed to enable people to retrieve and use the [[knowledge]] they contain. They are commonly used to [[complement]] a help desk or for [[sharing]] information among employees within an [[organization]]. They might store troubleshooting information, articles, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper white papers], user manuals, knowledge tags, or answers to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequently_asked_questions frequently asked questions]. Typically, a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engine search engine] is used to locate information in the system, or users may browse through a [[classification]] scheme.

A text-based system that can include groups of documents with hyperlinks among them is known as a [http://www.matthewb.id.au/utility/index.html Hypertext System]. Hypertext systems support the [[decision]] process by relieving the user of the significant [[effort]] it takes to relate and remember things."  Wiki software can be used to provide a hypertext-system KB. ''Knowledge base''s can exist on both [[computers]] and mobile phones in a hypertext format.

A text-based system that can include groups of documents with hyperlinks among them is known as a [https://www.matthewb.id.au/utility/index.html Hypertext System]. Hypertext systems support the [[decision]] process by relieving the user of the significant [[effort]] it takes to relate and remember things."  Wiki software can be used to provide a hypertext-system KB. ''Knowledge base''s can exist on both [[computers]] and mobile phones in a hypertext format.

A human-readable ''knowledge base'' can be coupled with a machine-readable one, via uni- or bidirectional replication or some real-time [[interface]]. Computer programs can then use [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AI AI] techniques on the computer-readable portion of [[data]] to provide better search results, check the [[integrity]] of [[facts]] found in different documents, and provide better authoring tools. An example is the machine-readable [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DBpedia DBpedia] extraction from human-readable [[Wikipedia]].

A human-readable ''knowledge base'' can be coupled with a machine-readable one, via uni- or bidirectional replication or some real-time [[interface]]. Computer programs can then use [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AI AI] techniques on the computer-readable portion of [[data]] to provide better search results, check the [[integrity]] of [[facts]] found in different documents, and provide better authoring tools. An example is the machine-readable [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DBpedia DBpedia] extraction from human-readable [[Wikipedia]].

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]