List of newsgroups

This is a partial list of newsgroups that are significant for their popularity or their position in Usenet history.
The Big-8 hierarchies.
These are the most widely distributed and carefully controlled newsgroup hierarchies. See Big 8 (Usenet) and the Great Renaming for more information.
comp.
Computer-related topics.
humanities.
Topics related to the humanities (fine arts, literature, philosophy, Classical Latin, etc.).
misc.
Miscellaneous topics. Examples include:
news.
Matters related to the functioning of Usenet itself. Examples include:
rec.
Recreation and entertainment topics.
Examples include these:
sci.
Science-related topics.
soc.
Discussion related to society and social subcultures. Examples include:
talk.
Discussion of various topics, especially controversial ones. Includes political topics as well. Examples include:
The alt hierarchy.
This is the most extensive newsgroup hierarchy outside of the Big 8. Examples include:
Other newsgroups.
These newsgroups fall outside of the official Big 8 hierarchies, as well as the less formal "alt" hierarchy. Other newsgroups can consist of geographic regions (official or unofficial), corporations, and other institutions or groups.