Electronic catalogs are classified by the way they are distributed: via networks (internal networks or the Internet) or via CD-ROM.

When distributing catalogs via networks, the kind of network plays an important role. There are internal company networks (LAN - Local Area Networks) and the Internet, which belongs to the group of Wide Area Networks (WAN).

CD-ROMs are, similar to the printed catalog, dependent upon a medium, because they have to be produced and physically sent out.