Title: What it means for a taxonomy to be hierarchical Author: Drew Jaynes Published: February 17, 2013 Last modified: May 14, 2015 --- [ ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/drewapicture/) [Drew Jaynes](https://profiles.wordpress.org/drewapicture/) 6:44 pm _on_ February 17, 2013 Tags: [core ( 9 )](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/tag/core/), taxonomies    # What it means for a taxonomy to be hierarchical We\’ve all done it, had to explain the difference between hierarchical and non-hierarchical taxonomies (categories and tags). In a recent ticket, [#23447](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/23447), it\’ s proposed that the description for the parent dropdown on the hierarchical taxonomyTaxonomy A taxonomy is a way to group things together. In WordPress, some common taxonomies are category, link, tag, or post format. [https://codex.wordpress.org/Taxonomies#Default_Taxonomies](https://codex.wordpress.org/Taxonomies#Default_Taxonomies). form be rewritten to be more generic. In an age of custom taxonomies, I think we can get behind that. ![](//i2.wp.com/f.cl.ly/items/2a253H210R0Q1G2P062o/Screen%20Shot%202013-02-17%20at% 2011.46.44%20AM.png) The current patch suggests changing this: > Categories, unlike tags, can have a hierarchy. You might have a Jazz categoryCategory > The 'category' taxonomy lets you group posts / content together that share a common > bond. Categories are pre-defined and broad ranging., and under that have children > categories for Bebop and Big Band. Totally optional. to this: > You might have a Jazz category, and under that have children categories for Bebop > and Big Band. Totally optional. I think we can do better. We\’d need to succinctly explain \”hierarchy\” without button-holing ourselves into just talking about categories. As [@dd32](https://profiles.wordpress.org/dd32/) aptly [points out](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/17609#comment:3), we need to avoid using taxonomy labels in any future changes because of the difficulty in working with different languages. So who has a suggestion? 🙂 [#core](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/tag/core/), [#taxonomies](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/tag/taxonomies/) ### Share this: * [ Threads ](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/2013/02/17/what-it-means-for-a-taxonomy-to-be-hierarchical/?share=threads) * [ Mastodon ](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/2013/02/17/what-it-means-for-a-taxonomy-to-be-hierarchical/?share=mastodon) * [ Bluesky ](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/2013/02/17/what-it-means-for-a-taxonomy-to-be-hierarchical/?share=bluesky) * [ X ](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/2013/02/17/what-it-means-for-a-taxonomy-to-be-hierarchical/?share=x) * [ Facebook ](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/2013/02/17/what-it-means-for-a-taxonomy-to-be-hierarchical/?share=facebook) * [ LinkedIn ](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/2013/02/17/what-it-means-for-a-taxonomy-to-be-hierarchical/?share=linkedin) * [Login to Reply](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fmake.wordpress.org%2Fdocs%2F2013%2F02%2F17%2Fwhat-it-means-for-a-taxonomy-to-be-hierarchical%2F%23respond&locale=en_US) 1. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f0bf5dca6ebbdf352c86c44d35595debcfeea9f939908374cc2a2d2784b6f654? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 2. [Rachel McCollin](http://rachelmccollin.com) 7:16 pm _on_ February 17, 2013 3. I guess the question is whether the same text appears against hierarchical taxonomies as against categories. This is part of a wider issue around understanding taxonomies and terms: 4. CategoryCategory The 'category' taxonomy lets you group posts / content together that share a common bond. Categories are pre-defined and broad ranging. is a taxonomyTaxonomy A taxonomy is a way to group things together. In WordPress, some common taxonomies are category, link, tag, or post format. [https://codex.wordpress.org/Taxonomies#Default_Taxonomies](https://codex.wordpress.org/Taxonomies#Default_Taxonomies). Any categories the user adds are terms within that taxonomy. 5. Can the wording be changed so that if it\’s for a custom taxonomy, it replaces\’ categories\’ with the taxonomy name perhaps? And also in that case you would want to omit the comparison to tags as its less relevant. 6. In terms of using taxonomy labels, would it not be possible to translate the labels using translation functions? I guess it would mean storing the taxonomy name and any text domain used when the taxonomy is registered and then being able to output this? Or am I overcomplicating things? 🙂 7. * ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/19347ef87f4fd5978b2184e7f05af5c780485f69dbfdefccfe3521c732a87f06? s=32&d=mm&r=g) * [Drew Jaynes (DrewAPicture)](https://profiles.wordpress.org/drewapicture/) 7:25 pm _on_ February 17, 2013 * > I guess the question is whether the same text appears against hierarchical > taxonomies as against categories. * The dropdown label is global for all hierarchical taxonomies. * > Can the wording be changed so that if it\\’s for a custom taxonomyTaxonomy > A taxonomy is a way to group things together. In WordPress, some common taxonomies > are category, link, tag, or post format. [https://codex.wordpress.org/Taxonomies#Default_Taxonomies](https://codex.wordpress.org/Taxonomies#Default_Taxonomies)., > it replaces \\’categories\\’ with the taxonomy name perhaps? … In terms of > using taxonomy labels, would it not be possible to translate the labels using > translation functions? * As mentioned in @dd32\’s linked comment, it seems like the problem that arises from using taxonomy labels is the additional labeling that surrounds them that translators can\’t control. We use the labels sparingly in situations where translators can control the context. 8. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/78e12b0e0fd945bd7d661af2b0ca95c1509d09a7a1f528ded21bbd604192c662? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 9. [Siobhan](https://profiles.wordpress.org/siobhan/) 7:54 pm _on_ February 17, 2013 10. How about: 11. > Assign a parent term to create a hierarchy. If you have the term Jazz, for > example, that may be the parent of Bebop and Big Band. 12. Also, the rest of that page needs a bit of a rewrite. Here you go: 13. > The name is how it appears on your site. 14. Just remove this – why is it necessary? 15. > The “slug” is the URLURL A specific web address of a website or web page on > the Internet, such as a website’s URL www.wordpress.org-friendly version of > the name. It is usually all lowercase and contains only letters, numbers, and > hyphens. 16. to 17. > The URL-friendly version of the name. You\’ll see it appended to your domain\’ > s address in your browser. 18. > The description is not prominent by default; however, some themes may show > it. 19. to 20. > The description may be displayed by your theme, or it may not be used at all. 21. > Note: > Deleting a categoryCategory The 'category' taxonomy lets you group posts/ > content together that share a common bond. Categories are pre-defined and broad > ranging. does not delete the posts in that category. Instead, posts that were > only assigned to the deleted category are set to the category Uncategorized. > Categories can be selectively converted to tags using the category to tag converter. 22. to 23. > Note: > When you delete a category, posts within that category (that have no > other category assigned) will be set to **uncategorized**. > Convert categories to tags using the [category to tag converter.](http://localhost:8888/pods/wp-admin/import.php) 24. * ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/19347ef87f4fd5978b2184e7f05af5c780485f69dbfdefccfe3521c732a87f06? s=32&d=mm&r=g) * [Drew Jaynes (DrewAPicture)](https://profiles.wordpress.org/drewapicture/) 8:07 pm _on_ February 17, 2013 * One thing at a time 🙂 Just like code is generally refactored when something isn’t working or is being improved, the same goes for changing strings, contextual or in the help tabs. * > Assign a parent term to create a hierarchy. If you have the term Jazz, for > example, that may be the parent of Bebop and Big Band. * I like this because it takes a tack of explaining what will create a hierarchy instead of describing what a hierarchy is. Action vs description ### Leave a Reply 󠀁[Cancel reply](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/2013/02/17/what-it-means-for-a-taxonomy-to-be-hierarchical/?output_format=md#respond)󠁿 You must be [logged in](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fmake.wordpress.org%2Fdocs%2F2013%2F02%2F17%2Fwhat-it-means-for-a-taxonomy-to-be-hierarchical%2F&locale=en_US) to post a comment. # Post navigation [← Codex Gardening: query_posts](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/2013/02/15/codex-gardening-query_posts/) [Hello Docs folks There’s a new project set… →](https://make.wordpress.org/docs/2013/02/21/hello-docs-folks-theres-a-new-project-set/)