This study aims to analyze the conceptual structure of the Semantic Web domain within Knowledge and Information Science (KIS) using data from the Web of Science (WoS) database spanning from 1995 to 2024.

The study was conducted using quantitative content analysis and network analysis methods. The research population comprised 1,761 articles. Data analysis was performed using VOSviewer, UCINET, and BibExcel software. Following keyword standardization, a co-occurrence matrix was constructed, and concepts were categorized into ten thematic clusters using the K-means clustering algorithm. Subsequently, a strategic diagram was plotted based on centrality and density indices.

The Semantic Web domain has evolved into a dynamic, multi-layered structure over the last three decades. The plotted strategic diagram offers a clear, evidence-based image of conceptual maturity, internal cohesion, and the epistemological status of research clusters. This conceptual map can serve as an analytical and policy tool for scientific decision-makers and researchers to identify knowledge gaps, determine research priorities, and guide future research paths more accurately and efficiently. The analysis identified ten clusters: (1) Ontology and Semantic Retrieval, (2) Semantic Web and Knowledge Management, (3) Linked Data and Information Organization, (4) Thesauri and Knowledge Organization Systems (KOS), (5) Digital Cultural Heritage and Knowledge Organization, (6) Metadata and Knowledge Representation, (7) Semantic Web Standards and Languages, (8) Semantic Information Retrieval in the Web Environment, (9) Open Science and Knowledge Engineering, and (10) Open Data Integration. The clusters of Thesauri and KOS, Digital Cultural Heritage, Metadata and Knowledge Representation, Open Science, and Open Data Integration were identified as emerging fields. The average growth rate of articles during the studied period was 57%. The concepts of Semantic Web, Ontology, and Linked Data comprised of the three main pillars and the central core of this research domain, with the highest frequencies. Notably, the significant presence of keywords from applied fields shows the penetration and influence of the Semantic Web in other areas.

Analysis of the strategic diagram indicates that Linked Data, Information Organization, and Semantic Information Retrieval, positioned in the strategic quadrant, constitute the mature core of Semantic Web research. The findings reveal a shift in this domain from an exclusive focus on technical standards and languages—which have now achieved a foundational and established status—towards operational implementation and intelligent knowledge management. This structural evolution, consistent with trends observed in prior literature, signifies a paradigm shift in the Semantic Web from an infrastructure development phase to a practical application within information systems.