Wikipedia:Category types

Topic categories are high level categories containing both articles and subcategories. Typically, these do not contain any articles about specific instances of the topic. An example of this type of category is :Category:Film. This category has articles and subcategories about the topic of film, but does not have any articles about individual film productions. Topic categories can be labeled with {{Topic category}} shown below:

{{Wikipedia:Category types/Topic category

| main=Film

| description=films and filmmaking

| topic=media topics

| indexcat=Films

| parentcat=Mass media

| note=See also: :Category:Television

}}

Index Categories are the "Primary" category talked about at WP:CI. An index category contains all the articles that are members of a class of articles defined by a topic. It is a master index of the topic. All members of one of these "X" categories are an "X". An example of this type is :Category:Suspension bridges. Index categories can be labeled with {{Index category}} shown below:

{{Wikipedia:Category types/Index category

| main=suspension bridges

| description=about individual suspension bridges

| topic=articles about other types of bridges

| topiccat=Bridges

}}

Sub-index categories are secondary index categories, a more specific means of browsing through smaller groups of articles. Articles put in sub-indexes could also be put in the index categories that are their parents (there is not yet broad consensus about this). An example of this type is :Category:Bridges in New York City. Sub-index categories can be labeled with {{Sub category}} shown below:

{{Wikipedia:Category types/Sub category

| main=Bridges in New York City

| description=about individual bridges located in New York City

| index=all the bridges in New York State

| indexcat=Bridges in New York

| topic=other articles about bridges in general

| topiccat=Bridges

}}

These categories are intersection of two (or perhaps three) other index categories. The articles placed in these categories should also usually be in the parent categories. This is often not currently the case in English Wikipedia. The template provides links to the parent categories. An example of this type is :Category:American silent films. Intersection categories can be labeled with {{Intersection}} shown below:

{{Wikipedia:Category types/Intersection

| main=American Silent films

| description=about individual silent film productions made in the United States of America

| cat1=Silent films

| cat2=American films

| topic=filmmaking in general

| topiccat=Film

| index1=American films

| navcat1=American films

| index2=films

| navcat2=Films by type

}}

Here is another example for :Category:Toll bridges in New York City:

{{Wikipedia:Category types/Intersection

| main=Toll bridges in New York City

| description=about individual toll bridges located in New York City

| cat1=Toll bridges in New York

| cat2=Bridges in New York City

| topic=bridges in general

| topiccat=Bridges

}}

These categories only contain subcategories and are intended to help people navigate through the category structure. An example of this is :Category:Films by type. Navigation categories can be labeled with {{Nav category}} shown below:

{{Wikipedia:Category types/Nav category

| main=films by type

| description=films of the same genre, type, director, etc..

| index=films

| indexcat=Films

| topic=filmmaking in general

| topiccat=Film

}}

These are low level categories mainly containing articles that are related to a single subject. Categories like this help users find articles that include a major section about the subject. Typically, they are eponymous categories and not part of any larger taxonomy. Subjects that are mentioned in just a few articles usually do not benefit by having subject categories. An example of a subject category is :Category:George W. Bush. Subject categories can be labeled with {{Subject category}} shown below:

{{Wikipedia:Category types/Subject category

| main=George W. Bush

| description=George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States

| topic=Presidents of the United States

| topiccat=Presidents of the United States

| parent=people

| parentcat=Categories named after people

}}

[[Category

:Wikipedia categorization]]