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Dictionary entry

taxonomy

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A system of categories and subcategories used to group related content in a consistent, agreed-upon way. It is the naming and grouping scheme that decides what belongs where.

Synonyms

  • classification scheme
  • category system

Related terms

In plain words

  • the set of categories things get sorted into
  • how stuff is grouped and named
  • the filing system

Usage example

The shop's taxonomy split shoes into running, casual, and formal so shoppers could narrow down quickly.

Don't confuse with…

  • folksonomyA taxonomy is defined by the organization in advance; a folksonomy emerges from tags that users apply freely.

Categories

  • Information architecture

Related-term graph

Two hops from taxonomy — click a term to open its entry, or re-center the graph on it

Focus term

Directly related

Two hops away

  • Relatedtaxonomy related of controlled vocabulary
  • Relatedtaxonomy related of faceted classification
  • Relatedtaxonomy related of information architecture
  • Relatedtaxonomy related of metadata
  • Relatedinformation architecture related of card sorting
  • Relatedmetadata related of controlled vocabulary
  • Relatedmetadata related of faceted classification
  • Relatedinformation architecture related of findability
  • Relatedfaceted classification related of metadata
  • Relatedcontrolled vocabulary related of metadata
  • Relatedinformation architecture related of navigation
  • Relatedinformation architecture related of taxonomy
  • Relatedmetadata related of taxonomy
  • Relatedcontrolled vocabulary related of taxonomy
  • Relatedfaceted classification related of taxonomy

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