The term, encompassing a broad spectrum of approaches, refers to the practice of carefully selecting terms to represent the core topics of a piece of writing. For example, in an article about feline behavior, relevant selections might include “domestication,” “predation,” or “communication.” This careful selection is typically applied to metadata, headings, or within the body text itself.
Effective term selection is crucial for content discoverability and clarity. It enhances search engine optimization (SEO), allowing search engines to accurately index and rank content. This, in turn, increases the visibility of the material to a wider audience. Historically, this practice evolved alongside information retrieval systems and the growth of the internet, becoming increasingly sophisticated as algorithms became more complex.