Indexing Definitions

Book indexing (or back-of-book indexing) is the process of analyzing texts and identifying topics to create a finding aid, usually published at the end of a book. These books are usually, but not necessarily, nonfiction.

Cumulative indexes are created by combining two or more existing indexes, often from a book or periodical series.

Database indexing involves creation of pointers to rows; it is used to speed up database searches.

Open-ended indexing involves maintaining and developing an index for a collection of documents that continues to grow.

Periodical indexes are created for journals, newsletters, blogs, meeting minutes – anything type of document published regularly or even irregularly. This can be cumulative, if new issues are not being added, or open-ended.

Web indexing is the addition of a webpage to a search engine such as Google or Bing, a necessary and early step in ranking the page. This plays a key role in search engine optimization (SEO).

Sources

University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff (2024). Chicago Manual of Style Online (18^th edition). https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/

Cleveland, Donald B., and Cleveland, Ana D. (2013). Introduction to Indexing and Abstracting (4^th edition). Greenwood Village, CO: Libraries Unlimited.

Davies, Dave. (2023). “Website Indexing for Search Engines: How Does It Work?” https://www.searchenginejournal.com/search-engines/website-indexing/