---
sourceDocument: Australia ServiceNow AI Platform Capabilities
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/servicenow-platform

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia ServiceNow AI Platform Capabilities

ft:clusterId :

    - platcap

bundleId :

    - platcap

workflow :

    - Platform


---

# Define a knowledge article category

# Define a knowledge article category {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated March 12, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read  
Each knowledge base has a hierarchy of categories that organizes the
articles.

## Before you begin

Role required: knowledge_admin, knowledge_manager, CanContribute access to the knowledge base

## About this task

Define a hierarchy for categories by creating parent-child relationships. Each hierarchy consists of a top-level category and a structure of subcategories, which are also named the child categories. The category hierarchy is saved in the Full category field in the Knowledge Category \[kb_category\] table.

You can
create and edit categories separately for each knowledge base.

## Procedure

1. Navigate to AllKnowledgeAdministrationKnowledge Bases.
2. Select a knowledge base you manage.
3. Create a top-level category.
   1. In the Knowledge Categories related list, click New.
   2. On the Knowledge Category form, fill in the fields.  
      {#t_DefineAKnowledgeCategory__table_zpb_v2d_hmb__entry__2}

      | Field | Description |
      |-|-|
      | Label | Label for the category. The label appears as the name of the category. |
      | Value | Value for the category you use when referencing the category in scripts. |
      | Parent ID | Top-level component associated with the category. This field is automatically set to the top-level component ID. |
      | Active | Option to enable the category. |
      [Table 1. Knowledge Category form]

      {#t_DefineAKnowledgeCategory__table_zpb_v2d_hmb}
   3. Click Submit.
4. **Optional:** Create a child category.
   1. Expand an existing category and click New within the expanded section.
   2. Fill in the [Knowledge Category form](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/p_IkNQnvtL05EYibvQQCuA#t_DefineAKnowledgeCategory__table_zpb_v2d_hmb).
   3. Click Submit.
   {#t_DefineAKnowledgeCategory__substeps_fbf_42d_hmb}

## What to do next

In addition to using categories defined by a knowledge manager, knowledge contributors can add and edit categories when editing an article.
**Related tasks**   

* [Add a knowledge article to featured content](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/qrLKgQenciJz6U7zUv_hmA "Add a knowledge article to appear in the Featured content section of the knowledge homepage and at the top of knowledge search results page.")
* [Assign a knowledge base manager](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/tTewbqZ6pHbwZiTVuw6Zpg "You can assign users as managers of a knowledge base.")
* [Select a knowledge article category](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/V1qUaH_wm9vuY_xEEbtO9g "Knowledge articles within a knowledge base are grouped by category. These groups can help you define the knowledge base taxonomy, and can help users find articles within that knowledge base.")

*[\>]: and then