Handtagen

Handtagen is a term used in German-language contexts to denote manual tagging of objects with handwritten labels. The word combines hand and Tag (tag or label), reflecting its origins in everyday practice where labels are applied by hand rather than by machine.

Common uses of hand tagging include retail markets, artisanal workshops, museums and archives during handling, and transport settings. Hand tags are used to record price, origin, inventory status, or temporary identifiers when printed labels are unavailable or impractical. In these contexts, hand tagging supports quick labeling, easy verification, and flexible display changes.

In archival, museum, and logistics workflows, hand tagging often occurs during setup, relocation, or transit before formal cataloging and digital records are updated. It remains a practical method in environments prioritizing low-cost, adaptable labeling solutions or where high volumes of fresh items require rapid, temporary identifiers.

In information science and data labeling, hand tagging refers to manual annotation of data for datasets or training materials when automated tagging is unreliable or inappropriate. While labor-intensive and prone to inconsistency, human tagging can achieve higher accuracy for nuanced or domain-specific content.

Variants and related concepts include handwritten labels and manual labels more generally. Although automation and machine labeling have reduced the need for hand tagging in many sectors, the practice persists in crafts, education, and certain field operations where flexibility and personal touch are valued.