A key is a tool used to identify or diagnose specific objects or
situations. Keys use a process of elimination where the user is
presented with a series of choices that describe features of the
object. By selecting those choices relevant to the specimen to be
identified, those objects that do not match the selected choices are
rejected. This allows the rapid elimination of large numbers of objects
that the specimen cannot be. The process continues until only one
object or a short list of objects remains, identifying the specimen or
at least providing a short list of possible identities.
There are two main types of keys:
Dichotomous keys – follow a tree structure. This is the type of key built using Lucid Phoenix
Multi-access keys – where the key is structured in the form of a matrix - the type of key that is built using Lucid3.