According to the IUPAC definition, in RRC(OH)OR R and R may or may not be a hydrogen. In a hemiketal, neither R-group can be a hydrogen. Hemiketals are regarded as hemiacetals where none of the R-groups are H, and are therefore a subclass of the hemiacetals. The Greek prefix hèmi means half, refers to the fact that a single alcohol has been added to the carbonyl group, in contrast to acetals or ketals, which are formed when a second alkoxy group has been added to the structure.
Cyclic hemiacetals and hemiketals are sometimes called lactols. They often form readily, especially when they are 5- and 6-membered rings. In this case an intramolecular OH group reacts with the carbonyl group. Glucose and many other aldoses exist as cyclic hemiacetals whereas fructose and similar ketoses exist as cyclic hemiketals.