Identifier
A kind of information retrieval language. Identifiers are non-controlled terms (opposite of controlled vocabularies) which may be added to a specific field in bibliographical records. The principles for applying identifiers vary from one database to another. Names on institutions are, for example, considered identifiers in some databases but are considered descriptors in other databases.
The citation databases produced by ISI on Dialog use the term identifier in an idiosyncratic way about KeyWord Plus.
Birger Hjørland
Last edited: 05-07-2006