The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the principles of interpretation:

Principles of interpretation – methods used to understand language and texts, primarily legal documents and sacred texts. Principles of interpretation may be used in the areas presented below...

• Biblical hermeneutics, the study of the principles of interpretation concerning the books of the Bible
• Biblical studies - Principles of Biblical interpretation
• Daniel 2 - Interpretation given by Daniel
• Daniel 7 - Interpretation given by Gabriel
• Daniel 8 - Interpretation given by Gabriel
• Johann Albrecht Bengel
• Cornelius Van Til
• List of Church Fathers - Tichonius

• Moshe Shmuel Glasner
• Talmudical hermeneutics

• Qur'an - Interpretation and meanings
• Qur'anic hermeneutics

• Canadian constitutional law
• Traditional Chinese law
• Francis Lieber
• Allonby v Accrington and Rossendale College
• Attorney General of Belize v Belize Telecom Ltd
• Interpretation (Catholic canon law)

• Heritage interpretation - "Tilden's principles" of interpretation
• Interpretive planning, an initial step in the planning and design process for informal learning-based institutions

• Exegesis
• Hermeneutics