Directory

A server or a collection of servers dedicated to indexing internet web pages and returning lists of pages which match particular queries. Directories (also known as Indexes) are normally compiled manually, by user submission and often involve an editorial selection and/or categorization process.

A categorized catalog of websites, typically manually organized by topical editorial experts. Some directories cater to specific niche topics, while others are more comprehensive in nature. Major search engines likely place significant weight on links from DMOZ and the Yahoo! Directory. Smaller and less established general directories likely pull less weight. If a directory does not exercise editorial control over listings search engines will not be likely to trust their links at all.

Human editors group websites into categories and provide site descriptions or edit descriptions that are submitted to them. With a directory, picking the right category and composing a description rich in key phrases will ensure maximum visibility. Contrast this with a search engine, which is unedited and concerned primarily with the HTML of a site's constituent pages.

A simulated file folder or container used to organize files and directories in a hierarchical or tree-like structure. UNIX and DOS use the term directory, while Mac and Windows use the term folder.

Stores all information about an organization's resources and users, such as sites, recipients, and servers. Other components use the directory to address and route messages. [Exchange 5.5]

A computer term identifying a location on a disk containing a set of data files and other directories (subdirectories). Operating systems use directories to organize data. The location of a directory is specified with a pathname.

A special file that contains other files. Some operating systems call these "folders", "drawers", or "catalogs".