One distinguishes between definitional, assertional, implicational, executable, learning and hybrid semantic networks1 Sowa, John F. (1992): Semantic Networks in Encyclopedia of Artificial Intelligence.edited by S. C. Shapiro, Wiley, New York, 1987; revised and extended for the secondedition. New York 1987. .

The focus of definitional semantic networks is on describing hierarchies and “is-a” relationships. This type of connection allows the inheritance of properties between superclasses and subclasses 2 McCray, A.T.(o.J.) The UMLS Semantic Network. Maryland o.J. . The information stored in these networks is assumed to be true, so all inferences drawn from it must also be true. Mereologies are those networks that describe a “part-whole” relationship 3 Köhler, Andre(2010): Intelligent Data Interchange. InterventionsfreierGeschäftsdatenaustausch durch Wissensrepräntation und ontologisches Matching.Wiesbaden 2010. .

Assertive semantic networks deal with the structuring of claims, where truth value can lie on a continuum between true and false.

Implicational semantic networks structure assumptions about the relationships between concepts and the mechanisms of inference.

Executable semantic networks allow connections between nodes using procedures, so that, for example, messages can be exchanged or searches can be performed between individual nodes.

Learning semantic networks can expand their existing knowledge using examples. New knowledge is connected to existing knowledge by adding or removing nodes or adjusting the weights of the connections.

Hybrid semantic networks combine the aforementioned approaches in one or more interacting semantic networks.