There are many ways to structure things.

• A structure is a configuration. An unorganized pile is a structure. So is a table of contents or a house of cards.
• Every thing has a structure. To choose a good structure for what you are making, you need to find one that:
• Makes sense to your usersReflects your intentHelps you to reach your goals
• Take the same things and arrange them, not in one way, but in two or three ways.
• Compare them. Iterate. Test. Refine. Combine. Change. Argue.

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Taxonomy is how we arrange things.

• When you set out to arrange something, how do you decide where the pieces go?
• To effectively arrange anything, we have to choose methods for organizing and classifying content in ways that convey the intended information to our intended users.
• Structural methods for organization and classification are called taxonomy.

We combine taxonomies to create unique forms.

• We use taxonomies to make sense of everything from systems to objects. It often takes multiple taxonomic approaches to make sense of a single form.
• Form is the visual shape or configuration something takes. The form is what users actually experience.
• Even a simple form like this book uses several taxonomies to help you read through the content, understand it, and use it.
• A few taxonomies in this book:
• Table of contentsChapter sequencePage numbersHeadlines that accompany brief expansions on an individual lessonA lexiconLinks to worksheets

Sorting is easier than deciding how to sort.

• Sorting is the act of arranging content according to established rules.
• The act of deciding how to sort something within a taxonomy is called classification.