This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the field of human information behavior, tracing its historical development and recent advancements. Initially, the focus was on how users interacted with information systems, but this has evolved to include a broader understanding of information seeking behavior, which encompasses both active and passive information acquisition. The paper defines key terms such as information behavior, information seeking behavior, information searching behavior, and information use behavior, highlighting their differences and inter relations. The origins of human information seeking behavior research can be traced back to the post-war period, with the 1948 Royal Society Scientific Information Conference marking a significant milestone. Early studies primarily focused on library use and the social class of users, but later research began to explore information needs more systematically. Key figures like Dervin, Ellis, Kuhlthau, and Wilson have contributed to the development of models and methods for understanding information behavior, emphasizing the importance of context, user needs, and user-centered approaches. The paper also discusses multidisciplinary perspectives, noting that information science is not the only discipline concerned with user and information use. Other fields such as psychology, marketing, organizational theory, and health care have contributed to the understanding of information behavior from their respective angles. The conclusion highlights the integration of different models and the emergence of new topics like collaborative information seeking and the role of the World Wide Web in information behavior. Overall, the paper underscores the growing body of knowledge in human information behavior and the benefits of this accumulated knowledge for system design and user-centered approaches.This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the field of human information behavior, tracing its historical development and recent advancements. Initially, the focus was on how users interacted with information systems, but this has evolved to include a broader understanding of information seeking behavior, which encompasses both active and passive information acquisition. The paper defines key terms such as information behavior, information seeking behavior, information searching behavior, and information use behavior, highlighting their differences and inter relations. The origins of human information seeking behavior research can be traced back to the post-war period, with the 1948 Royal Society Scientific Information Conference marking a significant milestone. Early studies primarily focused on library use and the social class of users, but later research began to explore information needs more systematically. Key figures like Dervin, Ellis, Kuhlthau, and Wilson have contributed to the development of models and methods for understanding information behavior, emphasizing the importance of context, user needs, and user-centered approaches. The paper also discusses multidisciplinary perspectives, noting that information science is not the only discipline concerned with user and information use. Other fields such as psychology, marketing, organizational theory, and health care have contributed to the understanding of information behavior from their respective angles. The conclusion highlights the integration of different models and the emergence of new topics like collaborative information seeking and the role of the World Wide Web in information behavior. Overall, the paper underscores the growing body of knowledge in human information behavior and the benefits of this accumulated knowledge for system design and user-centered approaches.