index term
English
editNoun
editindex term (plural index terms)
- (information science) A term associated with particular documents in an index used for document retrieval; typically, a term that captures the essential meaning of a document.
- 1988, Gerard Salton, “Computer-Based Text Retrieval”, in edited by Allen Kent and James G. Williams, Encyclopedia of Microcomputers, volume 3, →ISBN, page 89:
- This includes a term dictionary that provides for each allowable index term a pointer giving the addresses of the document lists in the term index for the corresponding term; […]
- 1997, Gerald J. Kowalski, Information Retrieval Systems: Theory and Implementation, →ISBN, pages 55–56:
- If the indexing is being performed automatically, by an algorithm, there is consistency in the index term selection process.
- 2003, James D. Anderson, “Organization of Knowledge”, in edited by John Feather and Peter Sturges, International Encyclopedia of Information and Library Science, 2nd edition, →ISBN, page 481:
- If a message discusses Labrador retrievers but the index term is ‘dogs’, the term is generic rather than specific. This will mean that a person desiring documents on Labrador retrievers must search for ‘dogs’ and then examine many irrelevant documents or document surrogates.
Synonyms
editHolonyms
editTranslations
editterm associated with documents in an index — see descriptor
See also
editReferences
edit- Svenonius, Elaine (2000) The Intellectual Foundation of Information Organization, The MIT Press, →ISBN, page 55: “A vocabulary is a “list or collection of terms or codes available for use (as in an indexing system).” The terms or codes of a bibliographic language are called by various names. In subject languages they are called keywords, descriptors, index terms, or classification numbers.”