standardleksikon

Standardleksikon is a term used to describe a general reference work that provides broad, authoritative coverage of knowledge across many subjects. It is designed to deliver concise, reliable articles that help readers obtain foundational information and quick factual answers. The aim is to serve a wide audience including students, researchers, and the general public.

Typically a standardleksikon presents topics in science, culture, history, geography, politics, and current affairs, organized alphabetically and interlinked through cross-references. Articles are usually written or reviewed by subject experts and backed by sources or bibliographies. Editorial processes emphasize accuracy, consistency, and up-to-date information, with updates issued in new editions or digital revisions.

Historically, standard encyclopedias emerged in the early modern period as comprehensive compendia of knowledge and evolved into modern general lexicons. In Scandinavian languages, the term standardleksikon is used to denote such general reference works, and the concept is closely related to other general encyclopedic projects. National and regional editions have played a key role in shaping public knowledge and education.

Today, standardleksikons exist in print and digital formats. Digital versions offer search functions, hyperlinks, multimedia, and varying levels of access, including open and subscription-based models. The quality and scope of a standardleksikon depend on editorial independence, the expertise of contributors, and the breadth of topics covered, with coverage shaped by editorial guidelines and updating cycles.

Notable examples that illustrate the standard encyclopedia tradition include international titles such as Encyclopaedia Britannica and national reference works like Store norske leksikon in Norway. The term standardleksikon remains a descriptive label for this class of reference works.