subentries

Subentries are subordinate entries in a hierarchical information structure, corresponding to a subtopic, sense, or related term under a larger entry. They help organize information and improve navigation and retrieval by grouping related content under a common parent.

In dictionaries, encyclopedias, and subject indexes, subentries represent distinct senses or related topics tied to a headword. They may include brief definitions, cross-references, or pointers to more detailed articles. Example: under the headword "plant," subentries might include "plant biology," "houseplants," and "crop plants."

In databases and content management systems, subentries are records associated with a parent entry in a hierarchical or tree structure. They enable nested categorization, such as a product category with subcategories, or a topic with subtopics. Operations include creating, renaming, moving (reparenting), and deleting subentries, with implications for access control and search indexing.

In catalogs, legal documents, and standards, subentries subdivide a main entry to reflect finer granularity and numbering schemes (for example 2.3, 2.3.1). Subentries support scoped searching and precise referencing, and are often indexed separately for discovery.

Challenges and best practices. Common considerations include consistency of naming, stable hierarchy, and handling synonyms or alternative labels. Good practice includes documenting hierarchy rules, avoiding excessive depth, and ensuring that subentries remain searchable and navigable across languages.