The word “classification” comes from the Latin word “classis,” which means “a class” or “a group.” It was first used in the context of organizing and grouping things in the early 18th century, and it has been used in various fields, including biology, library science, and information science, to refer to the process of organizing and grouping things into categories or classes based on shared characteristics or attributes.
In the context of biology, classification refers to the systematic organization of living things into categories based on their evolutionary relationships and shared characteristics. In library science, classification refers to the organization of books and other materials according to a set of standardized rules and guidelines, such as the Dewey Decimal Classification system or the Library of Congress Classification system. In information science, classification refers to the process of organizing and categorizing information in a logical and structured way, such as by using a taxonomy or a controlled vocabulary.