KnowLang is a formal specification language providing a comprehensive specification model that addresses the problem of knowledge representation for self-adaptive systems. The complexity of the problem necessitates the use of a specification model where knowledge can be presented at different levels of abstraction and grouped by following both hierarchical and functional patterns. The language imposes a multi-tier specification model where a knowledge base (KB) composed of layers of ontologies, operators, and inference primitives is specified.

KnowLang specifies self-* objectives through special policies associated with goals, situations, actions, metrics, etc. The self-* objectives define knowledge about what the system should do when particular situations arise when pursuing a system goal.

KnowLang policies are specified as individual concepts providing behavior (often concurrent). A policy has a goal, policy situations, policy-situation relations, and policy conditions mapped to policy actions where the evaluation of the conditions may eventually (with some degree of probability) imply the realization of actions. Policy situations may trigger (or imply) a policy in compliance with the policy-situation relations. The self-adaptive behavior requires relations to be specified to connect policies with situations over an optional probability distribution where a policy might be related to multiple situations and vice versa.

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