cataloghakukentät

Catalog hakukentät, or catalog search fields, are the input elements in a catalog search interface that allow users to constrain queries to specific metadata elements. They are common in library catalogs, archives, and many product or museum catalogs, enabling more precise searches than a single free-text query.

Typical field names include title, author/creator, subject or keyword, publication date, publisher, ISBN/ISSN, language, format, call number, and series. In Finnish interfaces you may see equivalents such as otsikko (title), tekijä (author), aihe (subject), julkaisuvuosi (publication year), julkaisija (publisher), ISBN, kieli (language), and sarja (series). Fielded search can be used alone or in combination with a general search, depending on the system.

Search behavior often supports simple searches that query multiple fields by default, or advanced search that specifies a particular field. Fielded queries can use syntax such as fieldname:value or be entered through labeled input controls. Many catalogs also support boolean operators, truncation, and phrase searching, while some rely on guided forms. Autocomplete, facets, and filters help refine results by fields like date, author, or format.

Metadata standards underpin the available fields. Catalog systems derive their fields from schemas such as MARC, Dublin Core, and MODS, mapping user-facing labels to internal field codes. This structure facilitates interoperability, cross-catalog searching, and consistent indexing across collections.

Applications of catalog hakukentät include improving recall and precision in academic libraries, public catalogs, and commercial product catalogs. Design considerations emphasize metadata quality, multilingual support, accessibility, performance, and user-friendly interfaces that balance advanced options with simple search workflows. See also metadata, faceted search, and advanced search.