> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://footlight.gitbook.io/footlight-cms-guide/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://footlight.gitbook.io/footlight-cms-guide/taxonomies.md).

# Taxonomies

Only Admins can add and manage taxonomies.  Use **Taxonomies** to create and manage hierarchical controlled vocabularies for classifying events, places, organizations, and people. Taxonomies help people and machines find content through website filters and web search. 

A taxonomy appears in its associated workspace as a field with a dropdown list of predefined concepts. Examples include event type, organization type, artist occupation, target audience, and event accessibility.

Set up taxonomies when you first configure Footlight CMS, and update them as needed. You can also download a report that includes all taxonomy concepts, unique identifiers, creation dates, and more for a single, complete view of your taxonomies. 

**Note:** Footlight CMS includes several commonly used event taxonomies. 

**To add a taxonomy:**

1. Select **Taxonomies** in the left navigation, and then click **+ Taxonomy**.
2. In **New taxonomy**, select the **Class** of the taxonomy. This sets the workspace where it will appear: Events, Places, Organizations, or People.  
3. Select **Existing field** or **New field**. Start with **Existing field** to selectively create controlled vocabularies for commonly used taxonomies. Use **New field** to create custom taxonomies to meet your specific categorization needs. 
4. In **New taxonomy**, select the taxonomy you want in **Map to existing field** if you chose **Existing field**. The taxonomy name appears in the **Taxonomy name** field. If you chose **New field**, enter the **Taxonomy name**.
5.  Optionally add a **Disambiguating description**. This description appears under the taxonomy name in the Taxonomy list to help identify it. 
6. Use **External controlled vocabularies** to map concepts in this taxonomy to concepts in an external vocabulary. See [Mapping taxonomies to external vocabularies](/footlight-cms-guide/taxonomies.md#mapping-taxonomies-to-external-vocabularies).
7. Use **Restrict user access** if you want to limit which user types can see and use this taxonomy. 
8. In **Concept list**, select **+ Item** to add a concept in all content languages. 
9. Drag and drop concepts to reorder them or to create and remove hierarchy levels.
10. Use the quick action menu next to the concept to create or clear a default concept. This concept will be used to pre-fill the associated field.
11. Use the quick action menu next to the concept to delete it. 
12. Click **Save**.

**To update a taxonomy:**

1. Select **Taxonomies** in the left navigation.
2. In the Taxonomy list, select the taxonomy you want to edit. \
   **Tip:** If you have many taxonomies, filter using the **Class** button. 
3. Make your updates and click **Save**.

**To download a taxonomy report:**

1. In **Taxonomies**, select the vertical ellipsis ( ⋮ ) next to **+ Taxonomy** to open the More Actions menu.
2. Select **Download report**. The report is automatically downloaded as a .csv file to your device.

**To delete a taxonomy:**

1. Select **Taxonomies** in the left navigation.
2. In the Taxonomy list, click the trash can next to the taxonomy you want to delete.
3. In the warning message that appears, optionally select **See impacted entities** to download a report to review impacted entities before making your final decision to delete.
4. Select **Delete** to confirm. 

## Mapping taxonomies to external vocabularies

Map a taxonomy to an external vocabulary to preserve the meaning of its concepts when your data is shared with other systems. External vocabularies of event types, organization types, place types, and genres are available. You can select one external vocabulary for each taxonomy to map between corresponding concepts. These mappings are included when you export data.

**To map your taxonomy to an external taxonomy:** 

1. Select **Taxonomies** in the left navigation.
2. In the Taxonomy list, select the taxonomy you want to map. \
   **Tip:** If you have many taxonomies, filter using the **Class** button. 
3. In **External controlled vocabularies**, select the external vocabulary with corresponding concepts.\
   **Tip:** If you want to completely remove a selection, hover over the field and click x.
4.  Select **Map concepts**.
5. In **Map to**, select a concept that is the same as your concept, or a close match to your concept. You can select multiple concepts. 
6. Continue until you are done and click **Save**.