> Markdown twin of https://adna.network/glossary/glossary-triad/
> Index: https://adna.network/llms.txt · Full corpus: https://adna.network/llms-full.txt
> State is a build-time snapshot generated 2026-08-30 (UTC); nothing here is live.

# Triad — aDNA Glossary

## Plain-Language Definition

The triad is the three-folder structure at the heart of every aDNA project: `what/` (what the project knows), `how/` (how the project works), and `who/` (who is involved). Every piece of project knowledge belongs in exactly one of these three folders.

## Technical Definition

The `what/how/who` directory ontology that organizes all aDNA content. The triad is the universal classifier — any project artifact is sorted by asking: "Is this about WHAT we know, HOW we work, or WHO is involved?" The ontology is deliberately minimal; three categories prevent the sorting ambiguity that arises from finer-grained taxonomies. (aDNA Standard §3.1)

## Usage Examples

- In this vault (`aDNA.aDNA/`), the triad is visible at the project root: `what/` holds concepts and glossary entries, `how/` holds campaigns and sessions, `who/` holds governance and community docs.
- The "question test" — asking which of the three questions a piece of content answers — is the canonical classification method.

## See Also

- [Triad (concept)](/learn/concepts/triad) — full concept deep dive
- [what/](/glossary/glossary-what) | [how/](/glossary/glossary-how) | [who/](/glossary/glossary-who)
- [Bare Triad](/glossary/glossary-bare-triad) | [Embedded Triad](/glossary/glossary-embedded-triad)