Information Architecture
Information Architecture (IA)
Also known as: IA & Information structure
Plain English
It is the underlying structure that helps everything make sense and stay findable.
Definition
The structure and organisation of content so users can find what they need.
In practice
Used to help users find information easily.
In context
It becomes visible only when it fails: a support queue full of people asking where something is, or a glossarySearchSearch is the functionality that allows users to find content or information by entering queries. It relies on indexing, metadata, and relevance algorithms to return useful results.Open glossary term box carrying glossaryTrafficTraffic refers to the number of users visiting a website, app, or digital product over a given period.Open glossary term the glossaryNavigationNavigation is the system of menus, links, and cues that lets people move through a product and reach what they need. It exposes the underlying structure, and is how most users experience that structure.Open glossary term should have handled.
The reality
If users get lost, IA is the problem.
Compared with
Information Architecture vs Navigation
IA is the underlying structure: what exists and how it relates. glossaryNavigationNavigation is the system of menus, links, and cues that lets people move through a product and reach what they need. It exposes the underlying structure, and is how most users experience that structure.Open glossary term is the glossaryInterfaceAn interface is the point of interaction between a user and a system, where inputs are made and outputs are received. It can be visual, physical, or conversational.Open glossary term exposed on top of it. You can redesign navigation without touching IA, and it usually does not help.
Information Architecture vs Sitemap
A sitemap is a picture of a structure at one moment. IA is the reasoning that produced it: the grouping logic and naming rules that tell you where next year's content goes.
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