語義網(wǎng)是萬維網(wǎng)聯(lián)盟（W3C）通過標(biāo)準(zhǔn)對萬維網(wǎng)的擴展。這些標(biāo)準(zhǔn)促進了Web上的通用數(shù)據(jù)格式和交換協(xié)議，最基本的是資源描述框架（RDF）。根據(jù)W3C，“語義Web提供了一個通用框架，允許跨應(yīng)用程序、企業(yè)和社區(qū)邊界共享和重用數(shù)據(jù)”。因此，語義Web被視為跨不同內(nèi)容、信息應(yīng)用程序和系統(tǒng)的集成器。這個術(shù)語是由TimBerners-Lee為一個數(shù)據(jù)網(wǎng)（或數(shù)據(jù)網(wǎng)）而創(chuàng)造的，這個數(shù)據(jù)網(wǎng)可以被機器處理，也就是說，其中的許多含義是機器可讀的。盡管批評者質(zhì)疑其可行性，但支持者認為，在圖書館和信息科學(xué)、工業(yè)、生物學(xué)和人文科學(xué)研究中的應(yīng)用已經(jīng)證明了原始概念的有效性。

The Semantic Web is an extension of the World Wide Web through standards by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The standards promote common data formats and exchange protocols on the Web, most fundamentally the Resource Description Framework (RDF). According to the W3C, "The Semantic Web provides a common framework that allows data to be shared and reused across application, enterprise, and community boundaries". The Semantic Web is therefore regarded as an integrator across different content, information applications and systems.The term was coined by Tim Berners-Lee for a web of data (or data web)that can be processed by machines—that is, one in which much of the meaning is machine-readable. While its critics have questioned its feasibility, proponents argue that applications in library and information science, industry, biology and human sciences research have already proven the validity of the original concept.