How Usenet Newsgroups Are Organized

Usenet is structured using a system of newsgroups, which serve as containers for related discussions. These groups are organized hierarchically, meaning each group falls under a broader subject.

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 newsgroup is named using dots to separate its categories, such as comp.os.linux. This format makes it easier to find and follow subjects of interest. Easynews organizes these discussions for easy searching, allowing subscribers to explore years of articles thanks to long-standing article retention.