Page Types, Navigation Tiers, and Shared Terminology
Page Types and Navigation Tiers
Effective Date: February 1, 2026
Last Updated: February 1, 2026
Definition
Across teams, the same page is often referred to by different names depending on perspective — navigation depth, content function, SEO intent, or internal shorthand. For example, what one team calls a Core Page may also be referred to as a Tier 2, Interior Page, Service Page, Product Page, or even a “kitten.”
This guide aligns those terms into a single, consistent framework by defining:
- What each page type is
- How it typically appears in navigation
- How different terms map to the same structural role
The goal is not to eliminate nuance, but to ensure we are always talking about the same thing — even when we use different words.
How to Use This Page
Use this page as the source of truth when:
- Planning site architecture
- Discussing navigation tiers
- Writing documentation or training materials
- Aligning across Product, Design, SEO, Content, and Build teams
If a term is used elsewhere (for example, Core Page, Tier 2, or Service Page), it should be traceable back to a definition here.
Page Types, Navigation Tiers, and Terminology Mapping
The table below maps normalized page types to:
- Typical navigation tier placement
- Common alternate terms used internally
- Notes on how and when those terms apply
This allows different teams to work from a shared understanding, even when approaching pages from different angles.
| Normalized Page Type | Typical Navigation Tier(s) | Alternate / Equivalent Terms Used | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Page | Tier 1 | Home, Index | Always Tier 1; primary global entry point |
| Category Landing Page (CAT / CLP) | Tier 1 (sometimes Tier 2) | Category Landing Page, CAT, CLP, Landing Page, Parent Page | Tier 1 when top-level; Tier 2 when nested under another CAT |
| Core Page | Tier 2 (sometimes Tier 1 or 3) | Core Page, Interior Page, Service Page, Product Page, Service/Product Page, "Kitten" | Usually Tier 2 under a CAT; may surface as Tier 1 or Tier 3 depending on strategy |
| Nested Category (CAT-as-Child) | Tier 2 | Sub-Category, Child CAT, Interior CAT | Behaves like a CAT but inherits hierarchy from parent |
| Utility Page | Tier 1 or Tier 2 | Utility, About, Reviews, Blog, FAQ, Gallery | Tier depends on business priority; Contact is always Tier 1 |
| Contact Page | Tier 1 | Contact, Contact Us | Always Tier 1; never nested |
| Location Landing Page | Tier 1 | Location CAT, Locations Landing Page | Top-level geographic hub |
| Location Detail Page | Tier 2 | Location Page, Location Profile, Location Kitten | Individual location pages under Locations landing |
| Service Area Section | Anchor | Areas Served, Service Areas | Anchor-based content; not a standalone page |
| Service Area Pages | Utility-like (visual Tier 2) | City Pages, Area Pages | Often SEO-driven; structurally resemble Utility pages |
| Footer Navigation Items | Visual Tier 1 | Footer Links | May look like Tier 1 but not always full pages |
| Anchor Links | Visual Tier 2 | Section Anchors | Appear like Tier 2 links but remain on-page |
| Mega Menu | Tier 1 | Mega Nav | Used when 3+ CATs exist; supports breadth-first discovery |
Page Types, Navigation Tiers, and Terminology Mapping
The table below maps normalized page types to:
- Typical navigation tier placement
- Common alternate terms used internally
- Notes on how and when those terms apply
This allows different teams to work from a shared understanding, even when approaching pages from different angles.
Key Principles
Navigation Tiers Are Structural, Not Semantic
“Tiers” describe where a page lives in navigation, not what the page is called. A single page type may appear in different tiers depending on strategy.
Page Types Describe Function
Page types (Home, Category, Core, Utility, Location) describe what a page does, regardless of what it is called in conversation.
Terminology May Vary — Structure Should Not
Multiple names may exist for the same page, but the underlying structure and intent should always align to this framework.
Category, Core, Utility, and Location Relationships
- Every Core Page either:
- Lives under a Category (Tier 2), or
- Stands alone as a Tier 1 Core Page when strategically important
- Category Pages function as parents and may:
- Contain Core Pages, or
- Act as a child Category under a broader Category
- Utility Pages sit outside the category/core hierarchy but may host their own Tier 2 subpages
- Location Pages mirror category behavior but are geography-driven
Why This Matters
Without shared terminology:
- Planning becomes inconsistent
- Documentation drifts
- Teams talk past one another
- This page exists to prevent that — and to ensure that regardless of the term used, the meaning is clear, consistent, and shared.