'目录' (mù lù) literally combines '目' (mù), meaning 'eye' or 'item', and '录' (lù), meaning 'to record' or 'record'. Together, they form the standard term for 'table of contents' — a structured list that records and organizes the main sections or chapters of a book, document, website, or software interface. It serves as a navigational tool, allowing readers to quickly locate specific content.

This word is commonly found in printed books, academic papers, digital manuals, e-learning platforms, and even mobile apps. Unlike casual terms like '章节列表' (chapter list), '目录' carries a formal, conventional tone and is universally understood across educational, publishing, and technical contexts. It appears at the beginning of most textbooks and reports, often with page numbers or hyperlinks. While '目' alone can mean 'eye' or 'item', and '录' appears in words like '录像' (video recording), their combination here is fixed and lexicalized — never separated in usage.