classification

n. The organization of materials into categories according to a scheme that identifies, distinguishes, and relates the categories. The process of assigning materials a code or heading indicating a category to which it belongs; see code. The process of assigning restrictions to materials, limiting access to specific individuals, especially for purposes of national security; security classification.

Notes

Classification may involve physically arranging the materials or use of a class code to index and retrieve documents stored in a different order. For electronic documents, classification may involve assigning a class code used to index and retrieve the document. In some schemes, documents may be assigned to more than one class. Classification2 in libraries refers to the process of assigning a Dewey, Library of Congress, or other code to indicate where a book is to be shelved.