ombook

Ombook is a term used in digital knowledge management to describe a compact, portable digital reference work that combines elements of a notebook, a personal database, and a reader. In practice, an ombook functions as a personal knowledge base or digital library that stores notes, bookmarks, quotes, and media alongside metadata and cross-links, designed for rapid retrieval and offline access.

Etymology and usage: The word ombook appears to derive from a blend of online and book, with some speakers treating the prefix omni- to signal a comprehensive, all-in-one resource. The term is not standardized and has been used in various ways across communities focused on note-taking, research, and knowledge organization.

Features and design: Typical ombook implementations include multi-source capture (web clippings, text notes, images), bidirectional linking, tagging, full-text search, and the ability to organize entries into topics or projects. Many implementations emphasize synchronization across devices, export options for sharing, and privacy controls to protect sensitive information. Some ombooks support lightweight scripting or APIs to extend functionality.

Variants and usage: In some contexts, ombook may refer to a product name, a feature within larger platforms, or a research concept describing a unified digital notebook. As a neologism, it lacks formal standardization and may be used differently by communities and vendors.

See also: note-taking app, personal knowledge management, digital library, knowledge graph.