Functions as a receptor for membrane-bound ligands Jagged-1 (JAG1), Jagged-2 (JAG2) and Delta-1 (DLL1) to regulate cell-fate determination. Upon ligand activation through the released notch intracellular domain (NICD) it forms a transcriptional activator complex with RBPJ/RBPSUH and activates genes of the enhancer of split locus (PubMed:21378985, PubMed:21378989). Affects the implementation of differentiation, proliferation and apoptotic programs (By similarity). Involved in bone remodeling and homeostasis. In collaboration with RELA/p65 enhances NFATc1 promoter activity and positively regulates RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation (PubMed:29149593). Positively regulates self-renewal of liver cancer cells (PubMed:25985737). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:O35516, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21378985, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21378989, ECO:0000269|PubMed:25985737, ECO:0000269|PubMed:29149593}. This is the function of Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000134250 (NOTCH2, notch receptor 2).