How Usenet Newsgroups Are Structured
Usenet is a decentralized network of discussions. Its structure is built around newsgroups, which are grouped by subject. Each newsgroup belongs to a hierarchy that helps classify the type of discussions it contains.
The Big 8 hierarchies include:
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comp.* Focuses on computer-related discussions, encompassing both hardware and software topics.
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humanities.* These groups cover discussions and topics such as religion and spiritualism.
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misc.* Serves as a miscellaneous category for topics that don't align with other specific hierarchies.
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news.* Dedicated to discussions about Usenet itself and news-related content.
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rec.* Encompasses recreational activities, hobbies, and entertainment topics.
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sci.* Centers on scientific discussions across various disciplines.
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soc.* Pertains to social issues, cultural discussions, and societal topics.
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talk.* Facilitates debates on controversial or open-ended subjects.
A newsgroup name like sci.space.policy
follows a hierarchy where sci
is the general topic (science), and space.policy
defines the specific area. This tiered naming convention supports fast, organized access to articles across Eweka’s long-term article retention system.