MediaIndex can be described as a cross between a document management system and a web-based file server. It can also be considered a "meta-gallery". It's goal is not intended to replace a real file management such as FTP or DAV, simply because the tools for doing these tasks already exist and do their jobs well. The purpose of MediaIndexer is to provide a means to expose your file repository to the world (or to computers on your local network) by way of the web.

The primary feature of MediaIndexer is that it is capable of presenting your files in a variety of ways. For instance, you can stream your MP3s, view thumbnails of your images, view PDF documents in text format -- all from a single interface. The associatations between media file types and the classes that handle them are configurable.

MediaIndexer also behaves similiarly to a wiki-style content management system. Each file and directory may contain a description, which is stored in the database. This effectively allows you to construct an entire content-driven website around your file system.