A reverse directory has two general definitions. The first is a residential telephone directory, which has been converted from a surname alphabetical ordered listing to a street name ordered listing. The second is a listing of addresses in a city, also known as a city directory.

A telephone directory covering a city or other geographic area consists of residential listed telephone numbers. The directory is in alphabetical order by surname. A first name or initials generally accompany the surname. The street address is then listed, although in some areas a household may decide to not have their address listed in the telephone directory. The telephone number follows the address. Because telephone directories are key-entered into a database by commercial firms, it is possible to manipulate the ...