metsuchtype

Metsuchtype is a term occasionally found in German-language information science and human–computer interaction literature. It appears as a neologism used to refer to a particular class of search interactions, positioned at the intersection of meta-search concepts and typed result categorization. The word seems to blend elements related to meta-search and the notion of a type or category, though its exact etymology and scope are not uniformly defined across sources.

Definition and concept

A metsuchtype describes a search interaction that combines querying multiple data sources (a meta-search approach) with explicit typing or categorization of results. In practice, a metsuchtype system would take a user query, distribute it to several underlying search engines or databases, and then merge the results while applying type-based filters or taxonomies (for example, distinguishing articles, datasets, images, or code snippets). The emphasis is on structured result types as part of the user experience and retrieval strategy, not merely on broad ranking.

Usage and status

Because metsuchtype is not a widely standardized term, its meaning can vary between authors. It is often discussed in theoretical or design-oriented contexts rather than as a widely implemented pattern. Some discussions treat metsuchtype as a conceptual label for federated or metasearch designs that foreground typed result categorization, while others see it as overlapping with established concepts such as meta-search, federated search, or cross-database querying.

See also

Related concepts include meta-search, federated search, cross-database querying, and information retrieval design patterns.