Definition
A public content catalog is a machine-readable index that explains what content assets exist on a site, what type each asset is, and where systems can fetch them.
In practice
Catalogs can live at an AI endpoint such as /ai/catalog.json and point to pages, articles, FAQs, glossary terms, directory entries, and raw files.
Why it matters
It gives machines a stable map. That reduces the cost of discovery and makes the site easier to surface in new interfaces.