Which term describes a filing system using the last digit as the primary filing unit?

Which term describes a filing system using the last digit as the primary filing unit?

• A. Terminal-Digit Filing
• B. Alphabetical Filing
• C. Chronological Filing
• D. Subject Filing

Answer: (A)

Terminal-digit filing organizes records by the last digit of the filing number as the first organizing key. The records are grouped into ten piles corresponding to the final digit (0 through 9), and within each group the preceding digits are used to sort or retrieve the file. This method spreads work evenly across all digit groups and often speeds retrieval in environments with many numeric identifiers. This contrasts with alphabetical filing, which sorts by names or topics starting with the first letter; chronological filing, which sorts by date; and subject filing, which sorts by topic. If the system calls for using the last digit as the primary unit, you're using terminal-digit filing.

Terminal-digit filing organizes records by the last digit of the filing number as the first organizing key. The records are grouped into ten piles corresponding to the final digit (0 through 9), and within each group the preceding digits are used to sort or retrieve the file. This method spreads work evenly across all digit groups and often speeds retrieval in environments with many numeric identifiers.

This contrasts with alphabetical filing, which sorts by names or topics starting with the first letter; chronological filing, which sorts by date; and subject filing, which sorts by topic. If the system calls for using the last digit as the primary unit, you're using terminal-digit filing.