Chain indexing is a hierarchical indexing technique used in information retrieval to organize and efficiently retrieve data. It involves several steps that enable targeted access to specific information within a dataset.
Get the full solved assignment PDF of BLI-223 of 2022-23 session now. Click here to download and guarantee top marks! Plus, browse our store for solved assignments of all IGNOU courses.
In this process, the key fields are identified, such as title, author, subject, and publication year. Initial indexes are created for each key field, containing unique terms and references to the corresponding records.
A primary access point is established, typically based on a primary field like the author’s last name. The records are then sorted and grouped based on this primary access point.
Secondary indexes are created within each group for the remaining key fields. For example, within an author group, subject and publication year indexes are created.
The steps of establishing a primary access point, sorting and grouping records, and creating secondary indexes are repeated recursively for each secondary index created. This allows for further narrowing down the search space and facilitating efficient data retrieval.
To retrieve specific information, the indexes are utilized. For example, if we want to find books by a particular author, we navigate through the author index to locate the desired author’s last name and retrieve the corresponding group of books.
Chain indexing reduces the number of comparisons required to locate specific information, leading to quicker access to relevant records within a dataset.
In conclusion, chain indexing is a systematic approach to organizing and retrieving data. By creating hierarchical indexes and following the steps of establishing primary access points, sorting and grouping records, and creating secondary indexes, it enables efficient data retrieval in information systems.