A category used to define, and thus organize information in a database. (Unit 3> What All Libraries have) Back to top of page

A heading used in the FamilySearch Catalog™ to categorize records by topic.

The most specific word or phrase that describes the subject, or one of the subjects, of a work, selected from a list of preferred terms (controlled vocabulary) and assigned as an added entry in the bi [..]

A type of multi-level controlled vocabulary in which metadata values are classified into categories which may be broad classes. Related GuideSynonyms: Subject Headings

A word or phrase assigned to a record to describe its content. Many items in the UC Davis libraries are given Library of Congress Subject Headings. In databases, subject headings are often referred to as descriptors. (See also Controlled Vocabulary)

Terms or expressions which provide the major means of access by subject to the bibliographic unit.

Controlled Vocabulary thesaurus produced by the National Library of Medicine. It consists of sets of terms naming descriptors in a hierarchical structure that permits searching at various levels of sp [..]

an access point to a bibliographic record, consisting of a word or phrase which designates the subject of the work(s) contained in the bibliographic item. (ALA)

Descriptions of an information source’s content assigned to make finding information easier." See also: Controlled vocabulary, Descriptors.