The document provides an overview of virus classification systems. It discusses how viruses were initially named randomly but are now classified systematically. The main classification criteria include the type of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA), number of strands, presence of an envelope, capsid structure, host type, and mode of transmission. Two major classification systems are described - the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) system which is based on genomic properties, and the Baltimore classification which is based on mRNA synthesis strategies. The document also discusses classification based on replication properties and site.