Taxonomy
Organizing Content for Effective Search and Navigation
Introduction
On the Web Platform, taxonomy is the system used to organize and classify content by grouping related pages, articles, events, and profiles into defined categories and tags. This structured approach is crucial in a university setting where content spans various subjects, departments, and programs. Effective taxonomy helps users locate relevant information quickly and assists content editors in maintaining consistent organization that is easily searchable.
The Role of Taxonomy in Faceted Search
A well-organized taxonomy is essential for faceted search which enables users to refine search results by specific facets or categories, like department or document type. This feature allows for faster, more precise searches by narrowing down results. For instance, a user looking for “biomedical research” could filter results by department or by recent publications, thanks to the platform’s taxonomy structure.
To maximize taxonomy and faceted search effectiveness, it’s essential to:
- Use Distinct Categories: Avoid combining unrelated terms to prevent confusion. Each category should represent a single concept e.g., “Research Areas” and “Events” should be separate categories. Combining terms like “Research Events” can create ambiguity and make search filtering less effective, impacting the accuracy and clarity of the taxonomy.
Maintain Consistency Across Terms: Clear, consistent naming of categories and terms improves navigation and search accuracy. For example, using “Social Sciences” as a broad category rather than “Social Sciences Symposiums” supports better filtering and reduces overlap. Consistency across the platform also ensures a cohesive user experience.
Using taxonomy on the Web Platform effectively can:
- Improve user experience with fast, faceted filtering and browsing.
- Simplify content management by logically organizing information.
- Support SEO by defining clear topics and relationships, enhancing search visibility.
Default Taxonomy on Individual Sites
All new sites come with a set of approved default taxonomy terms to ensure consistent categorization across the platform. For example, taxonomy terms for profiles align with HR terminology to maintain a unified structure across all sites.
Adding Taxonomy to Your Site
- For Articles, Events, and Profiles: Adding terms to these categories requires additional review due to the need for uniformity across the platform. This review process may include input from the Web Platform Governance Board, development teams, and other relevant stakeholders.
- For Pages: Adding terms for page content usually doesn’t require an in-depth review, although requests are checked to ensure terms align with leadership vision and to preserve usability and search functionality.
Requesting New Taxonomy Terms
To request new taxonomy terms, simply submit a Support Request Your request will be reviewed, and next steps will be provided. This process helps us maintain a robust and effective taxonomy system across the platform.
Note: Site owners are not able to add terms but they are able to see the terms on their sites.