We apply the concept of interval-valued fuzzy sets to theory of semigroups. We give some properties of interval-valued fuzzy ideals and interval-valued fuzzy bi-ideals, and characterize which is left [right] simple, left [right] duo and a semilattice of left [right] simple semigroups or another type of semigroups in terms of interval-valued fuzzy ideals and intervalvalued fuzzy bi-ideals.