Definition of the word index card

The word "index card" refers to a small rectangular card, typically made of paper, that is commonly used to organize and index information for easy retrieval. The term "index" comes from the Latin word "index," meaning "pointing" or "indicating," which refers to a reference or annotation that guides the user to the desired information. In the late 19th century, a Hungarian-British technologist named Ányos Jedlik developed a system of index cards to manage and retrieve information from his massive collection of scientific papers and books. Jedlik's system involved categorizing and labeling each card with relevant keywords and indexing them in a drawer-like container organizing papers and documents. Jedlik's method gained recognition when American psychologist, behavioral scientist, and pedagogue Edward L. Thorndike adopted and modified the system. Thorndike's version employed colored cards with numbered pigeonholes onto drawers, which is similar to the card catalog system in libraries. This particular indexing method became known as the "Thorndike method" and became widely utilized in education, teaching, and archival management processes. Over time, the index card became commonly known as a "file card," particularly in business environments, due to its convenience for organizing and managing files and documents in filing cabinets. Nowadays, digitization has largely displaced the traditional paper-based index card, but its namesake remains a familiar term in various settings, such as academic note-taking and reference card creation.