How to Create a Scalable Controlled Vocabulary - Allowing for Additions

The scalability of a vocabularyA set of terms (e.g., words) that are used in a specific community. Related Guide is an important aspect. The vocabulary should not be limited by the initial terms in the list. To avoid this, you need to examine the terms and think about the general class of things that all the terms are describing. Don’t think about an individual term (or an individual car, to extend the vehicle example). Rather, think about the general class of things. Now, attempt to define attributes of the general class. This may not be an easy process. However, if you are successful your vocabulary will be scalableThe ability of a metadata system to expand. Well-designed systems are established with the flexibility to scale up to larger data sets, enhanced metadata requirements, and a variety of growth factors.. This process is also an excellent step towards the development of an ontologyA type of relational controlled vocabulary, which provides for categories, relationships, rules and axioms among metadata elements. Typically a hierarchy of classes and terms, an ontology is a machine-readable way of relating metadata terminology. Related Guide.

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