EN
The article discusses the problem of knowledge representation language selection for domain ontologies. In the article the use of ontology as a tool of knowledge representation was presented and the analysis of logical formalisms such as frames, logic programs, description logic, first-order logic and common logic was carried out. Then a number of classic and markup based knowledge representation languages were analysed: Ontolingua, LOOM, OCML, FLogic, SHOE, RDF(S), OWL, OWL2. Based on the analysis of literature relationships and dependencies between versions and profiles of the OWL language were systematised. The article ends with the conclusion, according to which OWL 2 DL language is the most expressive language of retaining decidability, and therefore it is characterized by the highest applicability in the construction of domain ontologies allowing inference.