# catalog (10-catalog.com)

A catalog is a list or book of items for sale, or a systematic list of anything at all. People browse catalogs to shop, or they keep a catalog of their books, records, or other collections. The word feels organized and browsable.

## What a model may hear
- database schema registry (data engineering, Apache Iceberg, Hive): assume the user wants to query or manage a named container of tables and schemas, not a list of products
- library metadata system (library science, MARC standards): treat the request as about bibliographic records, subject headings, or classification systems
- Kubernetes package index (cloud-native tooling, Helm): look for a chart repository or operator bundle to install software
- astronomical object database (astronomy, VizieR, SIMBAD): search for star catalogs, galaxy surveys, or orbital element files

## Where people and models part ways
- Says: "show me the catalog"
  Means: show me your products for sale
  May be taken as: return database table listings or Kubernetes charts
  Say instead: "show me your product catalog or list of items for sale"
- Says: "add it to the catalog"
  Means: put this item in my collection list
  May be taken as: modify a database schema or register a new data source
  Say instead: "add this item to my personal list or collection"
- Says: "search the catalog"
  Means: search your store inventory
  May be taken as: query a metadata registry or astronomical database
  Say instead: "search your store's product listings"

## Tips
- say 'product catalog' or 'store catalog' when you mean items for sale
- say 'my catalog' or 'personal catalog' when you mean your own collection
- say 'database catalog' or 'schema catalog' when you mean the technical thing
- avoid 'catalog' alone if you are not in a shopping or collecting context
- if you mean a library system, say 'library catalog' explicitly

## Often confused with
- directory: emphasizes location or contact info, not items for browsing
- registry: official record, often for licenses or births, more formal
- inventory: counts what is on hand, not what is offered for sale
- index: points to where things are, does not describe them
- repository: storage place, often for code or data, not for shopping
- archive: preserved historical records, not current offerings