Organizing Website Content

Craig Borysowich (Chief Technology Tactician) Posted 12/31/2007
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Develop an organizational structure for the site as a container to hold the information content and functionality. The structure should:

· show hierarchy (importance and generality),

· show relationships between the chunks of information,

· be functional (usability).

For example, consider the following organizational structures proposed in the Web Style Guide:

· linear,

· hierarchical,

· tabular,

· web.

Linear Structure

A linear structure presents the information in the order it is intended to be read. Generally, this approach does not work in an on-line, hyperlinked environment. However, it is useful in some cases to present a small amount of information where order is important (e.g., the steps to follow in a process).

Hierarchical Structure

A hierarchy classifies the information and presents it as a tree structure to the user. For example, a hierarchy can be based on priority with the most important information appearing higher in the tree and the least important on the bottom. It can also subdivide the information by going from the more general to the more specific.

Tabular Structure

A tabular structure presents information in a grid. The reader follows either a vertical path to obtain more detail on a specific topic, or a horizontal path to view information on the same level for a closely related topic. There is no hierarchy of importance to the information.

Web Structure

A web essentially has no structure. The user can jump easily from one element of information to any other element. This type of structure relies on the user's knowledge of the information for navigation.

Comparison

COMPARISON OF WEB SITE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES

Structure	Pros	Cons
Linear	· simple structure · works well for narratives that flow in a logical or chronological order · useful for presenting sorted information (e.g., glossary)	· in general, works best for small sites or for displaying indexes
Hierarchical	· provides a structure for organizing complex information · hierarchical organizations are familiar and easy to understand · easy for users to remember the site structure	· requires thought and planning to develop the right organization
Tabular	· works for presenting information topics using the same categories (e.g., course curriculum, catalog)	· user must understand the relationships between the information categories
Web	· most flexible	· least structured · confusing to use, relies on the user's knowledge of the information to navigate the site

Sub-Sites

For very large Web sites, consider using sub-sites as a way to further divide the main site. The elements within a sub-site share the same organizational structure and graphical look and feel. Sub-sites within the main site may vary in their organizational structure.