What does the term "classifying" refer to?

The term "classifying" specifically refers to the process of sorting things into categories based on shared characteristics or criteria. This involves grouping items or information in a way that organizes them for easier understanding and analysis. For instance, in biology, organisms are classified into categories such as kingdom, phylum, class, and so forth based on their features and genetic relationships.

This categorization helps streamline information, making it more manageable and comprehensible, which is essential in various fields, including science, library sciences, and data management. The focus on shared traits in this process distinguishes classifying from other operations like alphabetizing, counting, or listing characteristics, which do not primarily aim to establish categories based on similarity.