Virus taxonomy occupies a unique position between biology and logic, with each field following distinct rules for information processing. The role of taxonomy is to bridge these differences as effectively as possible. To achieve this, the Virology Division of the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS) tasked the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) with the responsibility of developing, refining, and maintaining a comprehensive universal virus taxonomy. The primary objective of this effort is to classify the vast array of known viruses into a unified system that accurately reflects their evolutionary relationships, or phylogenies.

The latest authoritative resource on virus taxonomy is the Ninth Report of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2012), titled "Virus Taxonomy: Classification and Nomenclature of Viruses." Edited by A.M.Q. King, M.J. Adams, E.B. Carstens, and E.J. Lefkowitz, this report, published by Elsevier Academic Press in San Diego, serves as the definitive reference for virus classification.