---
title: "Card sorting"
source: 18F Guides
source_url: https://github.com/18F/guides
licence: CC0-1.0
domain: engineering
subdomain: 18f-guides
date_added: 2026-04-25
---

## How to do it{#how-to-card-sort}

There are two types of card sorting: open and closed. Most card sorts are performed with one user at a time, but you can also do the exercise with groups of two to three people.

### Open card sort{#open-card-sort}
1. Give users a collection of content represented on cards.
1. Ask users to separate the cards into whatever categories make sense to them.
1. Ask users to label those categories.
1. Ask users to tell you why they grouped the cards and labeled the categories as they did.

### Closed card sort{#closed-card-sort}
1. Give users a collection of content represented on cards.
1. Ask users to separate the cards into a list of categories you have predefined.
1. Ask users to tell you why they assigned cards to the categories they did.

<section class="method--section method--section--18f-example" markdown="1" >

## Example from 18F{#ex-card-sort}

- [Research plan including card sorting from 18F’s C2 project — 18F GitHub](https://github.com/18F/C2/wiki/Sprint-5:-Interaction-model-June-2016)

</section>

<section class="method--section method--section--additional-resources" markdown="1">

## Additional resources

- [18F card sort template (Figma)](https://www.figma.com/board/jhPXgKic2ory6wWu27XcDj/18F-Card-Sort-Template)

</section>

<section class="method--section method--section--government-considerations" markdown="1" >

## Government considerations{#con-card-sort}

No PRA implications if done as directly moderated sessions. The PRA explicitly exempts direct observation and non-standardized conversation, 5 CFR 1320.3(h)3.
</section>
