Ontology is the
philosophical study of the nature of
being,
becoming,
existence, or
reality, as well as the basic
categories of being and their relations. Traditionally listed as a part of the major branch of philosophy known as
metaphysics, ontology often deals with questions concerning what
entities exist or may be said to exist, and how such entities may be grouped, related within a
hierarchy, and subdivided according to similarities and differences. Although ontology as a philosophical enterprise is highly theoretical, it also has practical application in
information science and
technology, such as
ontology engineering.
