In a hypertext document organized by hierarchy, high-level generalities and overviews offer a preview of what lies below. Levels within hierarchies can be based on importance, frequency of use, or complexity.
Hierarchical organizations vary considerably from symmetrical tree structures to freeform structures. In a hierarchy with cross-references, readers can jump to relevant but organizationally distant topics (Horton, 1994). A typical technical book is ideally suited for this structure.
Some benefits of organizing by hierarchy include the following:
Readers are comfortable with this structure because many print
texts are organized this way.
Readers find this structure easier to learn than others.
Readers can even more accurately understand a document's structure through a hierarchical list of topics than through an alphabetical index (Horton, 1994).
Many subjects lend themselves to this structure.
The top level of the hierarchy (and one or more levels below)
can serve as a clickable table of contents.
Readers can repeatedly return to this top level to review the available topics. This review helps readers envision the entire document structure and remain sufficiently oriented within the document.
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Last Updated: May 2, 2001
(c)2000 by Alysson Troffer. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce or redistribute any material from this document, in whole or in part, without written permission.