Terminal digit filing is the filing of all files ending in the last two digits in one section, forming '100 distinct file groups (00 through 99) in any given file number situation.

The major advantages of terminal digit filing are that the file grows equally in 100 places with the retirement of older files, therefore forming an equal growth pattern in the file. lt also keeps files distributed, thereby making it easier for personnel not to crowd one another on the latest files, which in many cases are the most active.

With the use of Terminal Digit filing, we read from the bottom or last two digits, then the second set or middle digits and then the last two numbers tertiary digits. The use of terminal digit filing is usually seen in large file areas; hospitals, insurance, government, banking, etc. lt speeds up the retrieval considerably and reduces refile time equally by segregating files into groups of 00 through 99 (example #12345) terminal digits (45) middle digits (23 within the 45 section) and terliary digits (0'1 within the 23 section). As an example, a file 12345 (01-23-45) would be filed in the 45 section, next to the file 2345 (00-23-45). The file 12346 (01-23-46) which would normally be put next to 12345, would be filed in the 46 section, (then to the 23 section, then 01 in the 23 section). ln retrieving a file, numbered 12345, retrieval time is greatly decreased because we go to the 45 section and look to the 23 section, then the number 1 (01).