A controlled list is a simple list of a limited number of terms used to control terminology in a domain. They are usually designed for a specific purpose and deployed in a specific information system and they may not have utility outside this context.
In controlled lists, terms are usually arranged alphabetically without any other organization, and are also known as flat term lists or pick lists. In a well-constructed controlled list:
- each term is unique,
- their meaning is not overlapping and,
- they are members of the same class.
The advantages of such lists are that they are simple to implement, maintain and use as they provide users with only a short list of terms from which to choose, thus ensuring more consistency and reducing the likelihood of error, but they do not provide any indications regarding the relationship among the terms as thesauri do.
