This Glossary for Information Architecture was originally created by Kat Hagedorn while she was an Information Architect at Argus Associates in 1998. I will be adding and modifying definitions as I go along. If you’re an IA I would you input to make sure this list accurately describes what’s involved in the role of IA. Enjoy.
2 Second Rule: Is the principle that a user shouldn’t need to wait to get a response or feedback from a system. This applies to anything such as switching between applications, launching an app or submitting data to a system.
3 Click Rule: Is the principle that user shouldn’t have to click more than 3 times to access to any feature of an application or content on a site. This is more of a rough guideline as opposed to a strict rule. In today’s applications and content driven sites it will be difficult to adhere to this strictly. But it is helpful to keep in mind to try to minimize the steps necessary to perform a task or complete a goal.
5 Second Usability Test: As the name suggests this involves a user examining a web page or interface for just 5 seconds. The purpose of this test is to understand the user’s first impression of a page and unveil what judgments they’ve made purely based on what they’ve seen in the short period of time.
Attributes. Aspects of information about a content object. Attributes may be fields, tags and meta-tags. Example: a document can have a “language” attribute and a “date” attribute.
Attribute values. Descriptive data about the content object. Attribute values can be controlled (conforming to a vocabulary) or uncontrolled. Attribute values may be meta-information. Example: an appropriate attribute value for the attribute “language” might be “French.”
Automatic indexing. The process of using software to assign attribute values to content objects. There are three methods of automatic indexing: concept extraction, rule-governed attribute value extraction and direct extraction of intrinsic attribute values.
Bottom-up information architecture. The process of developing an information architecture based on an understanding of the content and the tools used to leverage that content (e.g., search, indexes). This involves the creation of building blocks, the databases to contain them and the procedures for their maintenance.
Browsing. The process of users following paths through a site that results in the retrieval of specific content objects. The three main types of browsing are hierarchical (accessing the primary path through the site), supplemental (accessing adjunct views of the site) and contextual (access to related content objects in the site). Users who browse may have less definite ideas of their information needs than those who search.
Bucket. See: content area.
Building blocks. The components of a bottom-up information architecture, namely the attribute and attribute values for content objects.
Cataloging. See: indexing.
Classification, classifying. See: hierarchical browsing, indexing.
Content. Information that has a tangible aspect because it has been collected and contained in a content object. Content can be unstructured (usually text) or structured (in a database). Content can be collected at differing levels of granularity.
Content area. A collection of content objects that share a common grouping method. A content area is one part of a site. Content areas may be buckets, silos and sub-sites. Example: the “Human Resources” area of a site or the search tool for a site, but not an audio clip or a document.
Content management. The rules (e.g., policies, procedures, standards), roles (people who perform the management) and resources (e.g., time, money, software) used to author, evaluate, organize, publish, maintain and store content objects for a site.
Content object. A discrete, manageable and usable piece of content. Content objects can have coarser or finer levels of granularity and are components of a bottom-up information architecture.
Contextual browsing. The process of users accessing other relevant content objects and tasks that are related to the content object being viewed. These other relevant content objects have not necessarily been grouped with the viewed content object. Contextual browsing is also known as see-also navigation or prospective navigation. Example: a user can contextually browse Amazon.com’s site by choosing one of the “Quick Picks” from the main page.
Controlled vocabulary. A collection of preferred terms that are used to assist in more precise retrieval of content. Controlled vocabulary terms can be used for populating attribute values during indexing, building labeling systems, and creating style guides and database schema. One type of a controlled vocabulary is a thesaurus.
Directory. See: hierarchical browsing.
Fields. See: attributes.
Granularity. The level of complexity of a content object. There are coarsely grained content objects (e.g., sites, databases, applications, collections) and finely grained content objects (e.g., documents, audio clips, drawings). More coarsely grained content objects contain more different types of content objects. Examples: (towards finer granularity) book – chapter – page – paragraph – sentence – word – letter or video – story – event – shot – frame.
Grouping. The process of placing like content objects together so users can access them effectively, thereby defining content areas. Grouping is performed in conjunction with labeling and is part of the process of organizing.
Grouping method. The process of collecting content objects according to a rule of organization. Appropriate grouping methods allow for more effective access for users. A grouping method is also known as an organization scheme. Examples: alphabetical, chronological, geographical, topical, task-oriented, audience-oriented.
Guide. A content object that repackages disparate content objects for a specific purpose. Examples: a “new user” guide to a site or a tour of the site.
Hierarchical browsing. The process of users following the primary path through a site to access content objects. The primary path is generally called the site hierarchy, but can also be known as a classification, a directory, an ontology or a taxonomy. The site hierarchy reflects the site’s information ecology and an appropriate grouping method. Example: a user can hierarchically browse Amazon.com’s site by moving from the main page to the “Books” main content area.
Index. A non-hierarchically organized content object that reflects an appropriate grouping method and that directs users to content objects that
share a particular attribute. An index is created by the process of indexing. Example: an alphabetical (grouping method) index of products (shared attribute).
Indexing. The process of assigning attribute values to content objects. Indexing can be performed manually or automatically, or by using a combination of the two approaches, and can involve a controlled vocabulary. The process of indexing is also known as cataloging, classifying and tagging.
Information. Anything that can be stored or retrieved.
Information architecture. The art and science of organizing information to help people effectively fulfill their information needs. Information architecture involves investigation, analysis, design and implementation. Top-down and bottom-up are the two main approaches to developing information architectures; these approaches inform each other and are often developed simultaneously.
Information ecology. The network of relationships that makes up an information space. The pieces of an information ecology are the content, the tools created to leverage the content,
the context of the content and the users who access the content.
Information retrieval. The study of systems for indexing, finding and recalling content.
Information space. The sum of information on an area of interest. Information spaces may be as large as the entire Internet or as small as an individual computer’s hard drive.
Knowledge. Information that is analyzed by the user and leads the user to action.
Labeling. The systematic application of terms used to describe content objects. A controlled vocabulary can be used to develop appropriate labels. Labeling is performed in conjunction with grouping and is part of the process of organizing.
Main menu. See: table of contents.
Manual indexing. The process of humans assigning attribute values to content objects. Manual indexing is based on human evaluation of content objects and perception of appropriate attribute values.
Meta-information. See: attribute values.
Meta-tags. See: attributes.
Navigating. The process of users interacting with a site to effectively fulfill their information needs. Users navigate sites by searching and browsing for content objects.
Navigational elements. The page-level pieces of a site interface. The global navigational element is consistent across a site; it allows users to browse hierarchically among content areas, and access search and supplemental browsing tools. Local navigational elements change between content areas; they allow users to browse hierarchically within a content area. Contextual navigational elements allow users to browse contextually.
Ontology. See: hierarchical browsing.
Organization scheme. See: grouping method.
Organizing. The process of grouping and labeling content.
Portal. A site for a particular audience, providing a path to all-encompassing content and services through one access point. A portal can be a vortal (vertical portal; narrow area of interest) or a hortal (horizontal portal; broad area of interest).
Preferred term. A keyword or keyword phrase that is chosen as the most relevant term for describing an aspect of a content object. The choice of term depends on context and audience. Example: a page about the evolution of the horse might be labeled with the preferred term “equine” if the audience is expert, or “horse” if the audience is novice.
Prospective navigation. See: contextual browsing.
Remote navigation. See: supplemental browsing.
Searching. The process of users entering terms into a system that results in a selection of content objects. The system can search the full text of content objects or attributes of those content objects. Search can be limited to one part of a site. Users who search may have more definite ideas of their information needs than those who browse. Example: a user can search Amazon.com’s site by entering “information architecture” in the search box.
Scent of Information. Refers to cues or clues that users consciously or unconsciously look for to evaluate if what they see is what they need to find. Scents could include such things as page titles, keywords, images or icons, meta data or navigation to name a few.
Silo. See: content area.
Site. A container for content objects that users navigate by searching and browsing. An intranet is a type of site; it is limited to a secure information space.
Site hierarchy. See: hierarchical browsing.
Site map. A content object that graphically represents the levels of the site hierarchy.
Sub-site. See: content area.
Supplemental browsing. The process of users accessing content objects that offer adjunct views of the site hierarchy. Guides, indexes, site maps and tables of contents are all supplemental browsing tools. Supplemental browsing is also known as remote navigation and supplementary navigation. Example: a user supplementally browses Amazon.com’s site by choosing the “Site Guide.”
Supplementary navigation. See: supplemental browsing.
Table of contents. A content object that textually represents the levels of the site hierarchy. A table of contents is also known as a main menu for the site.
Tagging. See: indexing.
Tags. See: attributes.
Taxonomy. See: hierarchical browsing.
Thesaurus. A type of controlled vocabulary that shows the hierarchical (e.g., parent-child), associative (e.g., related) and equivalent (e.g., synonymous) relationships among terms.
Top-down information architecture. The process of developing an information architecture based on an understanding of the context of the content and the user needs. This involves determining the scope of the site and the creation of blueprints and mockups detailing the grouping and labeling of content areas.
User investigation. The process of discovering user information needs. This includes direct interviews and observations of individuals, group surveys and the study of artifacts of use (such as search logs). User investigation is a critical component of information architecture because it ensures that user needs are reflected in the design.
Validation. Quality control for the indexing process. This includes checking for empty attribute values and looking at each attribute value for accuracy and consistency.
