Controlled Thesauri

Information architects use the term "controlled thesaurus" to refer to a relational diagram of terms used on a web site. This can also be in the form of a database. But it is not like a traditional thesaurus which you perhaps used to write poetry to your girlfriend or boyfriend.

What is an Controlled Thesaurus?

Instead of a traditional thesaurus, in which one looks up a word to find additional similar terms, a controlled thesaurus does the opposite. One looks up words in a controlled thesaurus in order to narrow usage, not widen it.

Building and maintaining a controlled thesaurus is an ongoing process which is initiatied when the project begins and is continually refined long after the project build phase is finished. However, it is best practice to get the majority of the thesaurus completed by the time the wireframes are accepted by the client. The deliverable can be anything from a database to an Excel spreadsheet to a Word document depending on the needs and budget of the client.

Why do we need an Controlled Thesaurus?

Simply stated, an controlled thesaurus is a means to control which terminology should be used and where. With concerns such as internationalization, translation, and multiple authors across a domain, the tighter the controls one places on allowable language from the beginning, the more professional, efficient, and accurate the site will be in the long run.