A method and system for measuring the similarity of objects based on relationships with objects of the same type and different types and similarities of those objects to other objects is provided. In one embodiment, the similarity system defines intra-type and inter-type similarity functions for each type of object. The similarity system may combine the intra-type and inter-type similarity functions for a certain type into an overall similarity function for that type. After defining the similarity functions, the similarity system collects attribute values for the objects, which may include relationship data between objects of the same type, referred to as intra-type relationships, and relationships between objects of different types, referred to as inter-type relationships. After collecting the attribute values for the objects, the similarity system solves the intra-type and inter-type similarity functions by iteratively calculating the similarities for the objects until the similarities converge on a solution.