Abstracting and Indexing Service
nounPronunciation: /ˈæbstræktɪŋ ənd ˈɪndɛksɪŋ ˈsɝːvɪs/
A resource that systematically summarizes and catalogs the contents of journals, articles, and other publications to facilitate discovery and retrieval of scholarly information. These services create structured databases enabling researchers to locate relevant literature efficiently.
Plain English
A searchable database that summarizes articles and catalogs where to find them in academic journals.
Etymology & History
Usage
"PubMed is a major abstracting and indexing service for biomedical literature."
Style guide notes: Use full form on first mention; abbreviate as 'A&I service' thereafter.
Also known as
Contrasted with
Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between abstracting and indexing?
Abstracting creates summaries; indexing creates searchable keywords and subject terms for discovery.
Which disciplines rely most on these services?
Sciences, medicine, engineering, and social sciences heavily depend on A&I services for research.
Why Test Candidates on This?
Critical for research support and resource evaluation in academic libraries.
Required skill level: Mid