Classification
Related: category - genre - ontology - periodization - taxonomy
Taxonomic classification
Taxonomic classification is the act of placing an object or concept into a set or sets of categories (such as a taxonomy or a subject index), based on the properties of the object or concept. A person may classify the object or concept according to an ontology. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxonomic_classification [Feb 2006]
Faceted classification
A faceted classification system allows the assignment of multiple classifications to an object, allowing searching and browsing of related information through several classes. Elements may include subject, geographical, temporal and form of an item.
The Colon classification and the Universal Decimal Classification are two examples of such a classification.
While for many years this classification has been thouht as something complicated, difficult to understand and exotic by many newbies and students in the library field, the approach of Ranganathans faceted classification has now received new attention in web technology for better subject retrieval of big websites.
Faceted classification is also used in software engineering to support software reuse. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faceted_classification [May 2005]