# Basic Formal Ontology (BFO)

> BFO grows out of a philosophical orientation which overlaps with that of DOLCE and SUMO. Unlike...

- Page: https://library.schematica.io/model/cf7986334d9447e4b88e7ce0a851f226
- Model type: Ontology
- License: CC0 1.0
- Access type: Free
- Access method: Download
- Model size: Small
- Formats: OWL
- Domains: Tech / IT
- Audiences: Researcher
- External link: https://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/BFO
- Contact: Barry Smith (phismith@buffalo.edu)
- Listed in library: 2025-06-12
- Last updated: 2025-09-10

## Description

## Ontology Info

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Acronyme | BFO |
| Description | BFO grows out of a philosophical orientation which overlaps with that of DOLCE and SUMO. Unlike these, however, it is narrowly focused on the task of providing a genuine upper ontology which can be used in support of domain ontologies developed for scientific research, as for example in biomedicine within the framework of the OBO Foundry. Thus BFO does not contain physical, chemical, biological or other terms which would properly fall within the special sciences domains. |
| Format | OWL |
| Categories | Upper Level Ontology |
| Groups | OBO Foundry |

## Metrics

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Classes | 35 |
| Individuals | 0 |
| Properties | 0 |
| Max Depth | 5 |
| Max Child Count | 4 |
| Average Child Count | 2 |
| Classes With One Child | 3 |
| Classes With More Than 25 Children | 0 |
| Classes With No Definition | 27 |

## Projects using BFO

- [eagle-i](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/eagle-i)
- [Plant Ontology](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/Plant_Ontology)
- [Beta Cell Genomics database](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/BCGD)
- [Ontology for the obstetric and neonatal domain](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/ONTONEO)
- [SKELETOME](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/SKELETOME)
- [Neural ElectroMagnetic Ontologies](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/NEMO)
- [BioAssay Ontology](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/BO)
- [eNanoMapper](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/eNanoMapper)
- [Open PHACTS](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/Open_PHACTS)
- [Open Access Journals Integrated service System Project (GoOA)](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/PDOLAS)
- [Immunology Database and Analysis Portal](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/ImmPort)
- [Influenza Research Database](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/IRD)
- [Virus Pathogen Resource](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/ViPR)
- [Blood Ontology](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/Blood_Ontology)
- [Ontology of Data Mining](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/OntoDM)
- [Bioinformatics Web Service Ontology](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/BWSO)
- [An Ontology for Drug Discovery Investigations](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/AOFDDI)
- [NGS Ontology](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/NGSOnto)
- [Knowledge Grid](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/KGRID)
- [OntoCOG](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/OntoCOG)
- [Decision Support System for the Elderly](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/DSS-E)
- [Mental Functioning Ontology](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/MFO)
- [Darwin Core](https://bioportal.bioontology.org/projects/DwC)

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Source: https://library.schematica.io/model/cf7986334d9447e4b88e7ce0a851f226