indexstand

Indexstand is a term that appears across disciplines with different meanings, and there is no single universally accepted definition. In information technology and data management, indexstand (often encountered as index stand or index-stand) refers to the component of a system that maintains and serves indexing structures, such as inverted or forward indexes. This can be a standalone service or a module within a database or search engine, handling tasks like incremental indexing, updates, query processing, and retrieval. In this sense, an indexstand is part of the indexing layer that supports fast search and discovery.

In library science and archival practice, an index stand is a physical display or storage device for index cards, catalogs, or bibliographic lists. It is used in reading rooms and archives to facilitate manual browsing by subject, author, or date.

In other contexts, the term may appear in product or vendor documentation as naming for a stand or frame that holds an index, list, or guide, sometimes in laboratory, showroom, or trade-fair settings.

Etymology: formed from index and stand; the compound evokes the function of holding or presenting an index.

See also: index, inverted index, search engine architecture, catalog, card catalog.