### Site Mapping

**Creating Site Maps:**
- Inventory existing content
- Group related content logically
- Define hierarchy and relationships
- Visualize structure

**Types:**
- **Hierarchical**: Tree structure with clear parent-child relationships
- **Sequential**: Linear flow (checkout processes)
- **Matrix**: Multiple categorization paths
- **Database**: Dynamic content organization

### Navigation Design

**Navigation Types:**
- **Primary**: Main navigation (header, sidebar)
- **Secondary**: Sub-navigation within sections
- **Utility**: Account, search, cart
- **Contextual**: Related content, breadcrumbs

**Best Practices:**
- Limit top-level items to 7±2
- Use descriptive, action-oriented labels
- Indicate current location
- Ensure consistent placement

### Content Organization

**Organizing Principles:**
- **Alphabetical**: A-Z ordering (directories, glossaries)
- **Chronological**: Time-based (blogs, news)
- **Categorical**: Topic-based grouping
- **Task-Based**: Organized by user goals
- **Audience-Based**: Different paths for user types

**Content Hierarchy:**
- Primary content (most important, prominent placement)
- Secondary content (supporting information)
- Tertiary content (supplementary, less visible)

### Card Sorting

**Types:**
- **Open**: Users create and name categories
- **Closed**: Users sort into predefined categories
- **Hybrid**: Combination of both approaches

**Process:**
1. Prepare content cards (30-60 items)
2. Recruit participants (15-30)
3. Conduct sessions (in-person or online)
4. Analyze patterns and clusters
5. Validate with reverse card sorting

### Taxonomy and Labeling

**Best Practices:**
- Use user language, not internal jargon
- Be consistent in terminology
- Test labels with real users
- Keep labels concise but descriptive
- Avoid ambiguous terms

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