Indexing phrase
An indexing phrase is a sequence of indexing words, including spaces, which by
searching function as one word
as opposed to the normal separation of search terms by spaces.
An indexing phrase is also termed a
'bound term' or a 'compound term' and are opposed to a 'single-word term'.
In databases are some fields often indexed word by word (e.g., the title field)
some fields are phrase indexed (e.g., the field containing journal names) and
other fields are indexed in both ways (e.g., the descriptor field).
Such electronic indexing phrases are often used on "multiword units" (opposite of single word terms or "lone words").
See also: Descriptor;
Free text searching;
Identifier; Parser;
Record;
Word (Lifeboat for KO).
Birger Hjørland
Last edited: 26-07-2006