A knowledge-based system is a computer program that reasons and uses knowledge to solve complex problems. Traditionally, computers have solved complex problems using arithmetic algorithms created by programmers. With knowledge-based systems, human knowledge is captured and embedded explicitly within a program in a symbolic format.

Expressing knowledge as rules and heuristics has two particular advantages over previous software development technology. Not only can explicit knowledge be trapped in the computer, but so can implicit knowledge, which is useful and potentially very profitable. The other advantage is that knowledge that exists in the form of rules can be captured in that form, without having to be converted by teams of analysts and programmers into data definitions and procedures.

Types of Systems

One way that knowledge-based systems can be classified is by the kind of conclusions they produce. Some interpret the available evidence and produce diagnoses—for example...