語義網是萬維網聯盟（W3C）通過標準對萬維網的擴展。這些標準促進了Web上的通用數據格式和交換協議，最基本的是資源描述框架（RDF）。根據W3C，“語義Web提供了一個通用框架，允許跨應用程序、企業和社區邊界共享和重用數據”。因此，語義Web被視為跨不同內容、信息應用程序和系統的集成器。這個術語是由TimBerners-Lee為一個數據網（或數據網）而創造的，這個數據網可以被機器處理，也就是說，其中的許多含義是機器可讀的。盡管批評者質疑其可行性，但支持者認為，在圖書館和信息科學、工業、生物學和人文科學研究中的應用已經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.