How Usenet Newsgroups Are Structured

Usenet is a globally distributed discussion system made manageable through a structured set of newsgroups. These groups are arranged into named hierarchies to help categorize topics efficiently.

The Big 8 hierarchies include:

• comp.* Focuses on computer-related discussions, encompassing both hardware and software topics.​

• humanities.* These groups cover discussions and topics such as religion and spiritualism.

• misc.* Serves as a miscellaneous category for topics that don't align with other specific hierarchies.

• news.* Dedicated to discussions about Usenet itself and news-related content.​

• rec.* Encompasses recreational activities, hobbies, and entertainment topics.​

• sci.* Centers on scientific discussions across various disciplines.​

• soc.* Pertains to social issues, cultural discussions, and societal topics.​

• talk.* Facilitates debates on controversial or open-ended subjects.​

Each group name reveals its place in the hierarchy. For example, rec.music.jazz is a recreational group dedicated to jazz discussions. Tweaknews gives subscribers organized access to articles across an expanding article retention archive that spans many years.