Syngraph is a relational database application that that allows linkage of any published name to any other using a lexicon of modifiers that are conventional in taxonomy, anchoring each use to its bibliographic reference.

Through the use of color and other symbology, the synonymies list generated by the report function of Syngraph provides in graphic format more information than is provided in conventional lists about the relation of the name to other members of the list and about confidence in that usage. The electronic application allows access to all published uses of a name, which print lists commonly do not.

The tracking and display of names in Syngraph has two functions:

to create the historical record of name use: this is the function that is relevant to taxonomic publications such as descriptions and monographs.

to allow the testing of hypotheses about the application of names: this function has broad applications in systematics and biogeography.