A collection of preferred terms that are used to assist in more precise retrieval of content. Controlled vocabulary terms can be used for populating attribute values during indexing, building labeling systems, and creating style guides and database schema. One type of a controlled vocabulary is a thesaurus.
Related topics: attribute values, indexing, labeling, preferred term, taxonomy, folksonomy, thesaurus
Source: The Information Architecture Glossary, Argus Center for Information Architecture (PDF Available)
- Metadata Glossary, by Victor Lombardi in Noise Betwee Stations
- What is a Controlled Vocabulary, by by Fred Leise and Karl Fast and Mike Steckel in Boxes and Arrows