What is Network IA?

Network IA connects content through links and relationships rather than hierarchies. Users jump between related items freely—like Wikipedia where every page links to related pages. No central structure; content is organized by associations. Powerful for knowledge bases, wikis, and interconnected content.

When Should You Use This?

Use network IA for wikis, knowledge bases, documentation with heavy cross-referencing, or when content has many-to-many relationships. Works best when combined with strong search and breadcrumbs (since users can enter from anywhere). Essential for Roam/Obsidian-style bidirectional linking. Avoid for linear processes or when users need guided navigation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• •No entry points—users need starting places; provide homepage or topic hubs
• •Dead ends—every page should link to related content; no orphaned pages
• •Too many links—>10 links per page and users are overwhelmed; curate thoughtfully
• •No breadcrumbs/history—users get lost in networks; show path or history
• •Missing search—network IA is unusable without good search

Real-World Examples

• •Wikipedia—quintessential network IA, every page links to related articles
• •Roam Research—bidirectional links create knowledge graph
• •Notion wiki templates—interlinked pages for team knowledge
• •Linear Docs—issue references create network of related issues