Knowledge Organization Systems definitions, typologies, characteristics, and instruments — a mapping and analysis of the literature

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the definitions of the term Knowledge Organization Systems (KOS) in the literature, as well as their typologies, analytical models, and characteristics in the contemporary context. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was adopted as the methodological procedure, resulting in a corpus of seven articles aligned with the research objectives. The results highlight the terminological diversity associated with KOS, the lack of consensus regarding their conceptual delimitation, and the multiplicity of typologies and analytical models. It is observed that KOS encompass structural, functional, and contextual dimensions that broaden their understanding as instruments for information organization and retrieval. Furthermore, these systems do not follow a linear evolutionary logic but rather a process of continuity, reconfiguration, and integration, especially in digital and interoperable environments. It is concluded that the analysis of KOS requires approaches that consider their multidimensional, sociotechnical, and contextually situated nature.