# directory (information)

a collection of items in order so each has a name

- Computed level: L9 (depth in the emergence graph, not abstraction)
- Status: review  ·  Domain: directory  ·  Arena: lexicon

## Emergence
**Emerges from:** [collection](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-collection.group), [order](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-order.arrangement), [name](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-name.identifier), [items](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-items.object)

**Through:** the grouping collects distinct items, the arrangement orders them, and the identifier assigns a name to each, forming a structured directory

**Novel properties:**
- named positions
- list structure
- indexed access

## Examples
- The Dewey Decimal System organizes books in libraries by subject, assigning each a unique numerical identifier. *(institutions)*
- The Linux filesystem uses directories like /home and /etc to group files with human-readable names. *(computing)*
- The Yellow Pages listed businesses by category and alphabetically by name, updated annually in print. *(economics)*

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*Canonical: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-directory.information*  
*Structured data: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-directory.information.json*  
*Every definition provably resolves to space, time, energy and pattern.*