Formal Concept Analysis: From Knowledge Discovery to Knowledge Processing

Abstract

In this chapter, we introduce Formal Concept Analysis (FCA) and some of its extensions. FCA is a formalism based on lattice theory aimed at data analysis and knowledge processing. FCA allows the design of so-called concept lattices from binary and complex data. These concept lattices provide a realistic basis for knowledge engineering and the design of knowledge-based systems. Indeed, FCA is closely related to knowledge discovery in databases, knowledge representation and reasoning. Accordingly, FCA supports a wide range of complex and intelligent tasks among which classification, information retrieval, recommendation, network analysis, software engineering and data management. Finally, FCA is used in many applications demonstrating its growing importance in data and knowledge sciences.