An index is a guide to the material published within other works, sometimes within books but more often within periodicals. In a periodical index, you'll find every article for the periodicals and the period covered, listed alphabetically by author, title, and subject. The index will also include the source information you'll need to find each article, usually the periodical title, issue number, and page numbers. Indexes are available in print and in electronic form. Electronic indexes – often referred to as periodical databases – usually include more information on each article than an index does, such as a short summary. To read more about electronic indexes, view our unit on Databases and Electronic Indexes.
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