Hi,

Can you remember once upon a time Yahoo and Open Directory or Dmoz were directories with categories and subcategories and sub-sub categories etc. ?
I need to have a list of such categories. Link listing categories.
Trying to build a link directory.
Where can I get the lists of popular categories that websites would find handy enough to list their links ? Do not want to be creating cats & subcats etc. for those that hardly get any listings.
Googling for the lists are yielding no results tonight.

Here are the categories that LinkedIn uses per their API. (Ignore how they are formatted, that was for my personal use case.)

$php_categories = array(
    array('category' => 'corp','industry' => 'Accounting'),
    array('category' => 'fin','industry' => 'Accounting'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Airlines/Aviation'),
    array('category' => 'tech','industry' => 'Airlines/Aviation'),
    array('category' => 'tran','industry' => 'Airlines/Aviation'),
    array('category' => 'leg','industry' => 'Alternative Dispute Resolution'),
    array('category' => 'org','industry' => 'Alternative Dispute Resolution'),
    array('category' => 'hlth','industry' => 'Alternative Medicine'),
    array('category' => 'art','industry' => 'Animation'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Animation'),
    array('category' => 'good','industry' => 'Apparel & Fashion'),
    array('category' => 'cons','industry' => 'Architecture & Planning'),
    array('category' => 'art','industry' => 'Arts and Crafts'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Arts and Crafts'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Arts and Crafts'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Automotive'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Aviation & Aerospace'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Aviation & Aerospace'),
    array('category' => 'fin','industry' => 'Banking'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Biotechnology'),
    array('category' => 'hlth','industry' => 'Biotechnology'),
    array('category' => 'tech','industry' => 'Biotechnology'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Broadcast Media'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Broadcast Media'),
    array('category' => 'cons','industry' => 'Building Materials'),
    array('category' => 'corp','industry' => 'Business Supplies and Equipment'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Business Supplies and Equipment'),
    array('category' => 'fin','industry' => 'Capital Markets'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Chemicals'),
    array('category' => 'org','industry' => 'Civic & Social Organization'),
    array('category' => 'serv','industry' => 'Civic & Social Organization'),
    array('category' => 'cons','industry' => 'Civil Engineering'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Civil Engineering'),
    array('category' => 'cons','industry' => 'Commercial Real Estate'),
    array('category' => 'corp','industry' => 'Commercial Real Estate'),
    array('category' => 'fin','industry' => 'Commercial Real Estate'),
    array('category' => 'tech','industry' => 'Computer & Network Security'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Computer Games'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Computer Games'),
    array('category' => 'tech','industry' => 'Computer Hardware'),
    array('category' => 'tech','industry' => 'Computer Networking'),
    array('category' => 'tech','industry' => 'Computer Software'),
    array('category' => 'cons','industry' => 'Construction'),
    array('category' => 'good','industry' => 'Consumer Electronics'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Consumer Electronics'),
    array('category' => 'good','industry' => 'Consumer Goods'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Consumer Goods'),
    array('category' => 'org','industry' => 'Consumer Services'),
    array('category' => 'serv','industry' => 'Consumer Services'),
    array('category' => 'good','industry' => 'Cosmetics'),
    array('category' => 'agr','industry' => 'Dairy'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Defense & Space'),
    array('category' => 'tech','industry' => 'Defense & Space'),
    array('category' => 'art','industry' => 'Design'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Design'),
    array('category' => 'edu','industry' => 'E-Learning'),
    array('category' => 'org','industry' => 'E-Learning'),
    array('category' => 'edu','industry' => 'Education Management'),
    array('category' => 'good','industry' => 'Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Entertainment'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Entertainment'),
    array('category' => 'org','industry' => 'Environmental Services'),
    array('category' => 'serv','industry' => 'Environmental Services'),
    array('category' => 'corp','industry' => 'Events Services'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Events Services'),
    array('category' => 'serv','industry' => 'Events Services'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Executive Office'),
    array('category' => 'corp','industry' => 'Facilities Services'),
    array('category' => 'serv','industry' => 'Facilities Services'),
    array('category' => 'agr','industry' => 'Farming'),
    array('category' => 'fin','industry' => 'Financial Services'),
    array('category' => 'art','industry' => 'Fine Art'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Fine Art'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Fine Art'),
    array('category' => 'agr','industry' => 'Fishery'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Food & Beverages'),
    array('category' => 'serv','industry' => 'Food & Beverages'),
    array('category' => 'good','industry' => 'Food Production'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Food Production'),
    array('category' => 'serv','industry' => 'Food Production'),
    array('category' => 'org','industry' => 'Fund-Raising'),
    array('category' => 'good','industry' => 'Furniture'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Furniture'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Gambling & Casinos'),
    array('category' => 'cons','industry' => 'Glass, Ceramics & Concrete'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Glass, Ceramics & Concrete'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Government Administration'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Government Relations'),
    array('category' => 'art','industry' => 'Graphic Design'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Graphic Design'),
    array('category' => 'hlth','industry' => 'Health, Wellness and Fitness'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Health, Wellness and Fitness'),
    array('category' => 'edu','industry' => 'Higher Education'),
    array('category' => 'hlth','industry' => 'Hospital & Health Care'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Hospitality'),
    array('category' => 'serv','industry' => 'Hospitality'),
    array('category' => 'tran','industry' => 'Hospitality'),
    array('category' => 'corp','industry' => 'Human Resources'),
    array('category' => 'corp','industry' => 'Import and Export'),
    array('category' => 'good','industry' => 'Import and Export'),
    array('category' => 'tran','industry' => 'Import and Export'),
    array('category' => 'org','industry' => 'Individual & Family Services'),
    array('category' => 'serv','industry' => 'Individual & Family Services'),
    array('category' => 'cons','industry' => 'Industrial Automation'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Industrial Automation'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Information Services'),
    array('category' => 'serv','industry' => 'Information Services'),
    array('category' => 'tech','industry' => 'Information Technology and Services'),
    array('category' => 'fin','industry' => 'Insurance'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'International Affairs'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'International Trade and Development'),
    array('category' => 'org','industry' => 'International Trade and Development'),
    array('category' => 'tran','industry' => 'International Trade and Development'),
    array('category' => 'tech','industry' => 'Internet'),
    array('category' => 'fin','industry' => 'Investment Banking'),
    array('category' => 'fin','industry' => 'Investment Management'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Judiciary'),
    array('category' => 'leg','industry' => 'Judiciary'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Law Enforcement'),
    array('category' => 'leg','industry' => 'Law Enforcement'),
    array('category' => 'leg','industry' => 'Law Practice'),
    array('category' => 'leg','industry' => 'Legal Services'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Legislative Office'),
    array('category' => 'leg','industry' => 'Legislative Office'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Leisure, Travel & Tourism'),
    array('category' => 'serv','industry' => 'Leisure, Travel & Tourism'),
    array('category' => 'tran','industry' => 'Leisure, Travel & Tourism'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Libraries'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Libraries'),
    array('category' => 'serv','industry' => 'Libraries'),
    array('category' => 'corp','industry' => 'Logistics and Supply Chain'),
    array('category' => 'tran','industry' => 'Logistics and Supply Chain'),
    array('category' => 'good','industry' => 'Luxury Goods & Jewelry'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Machinery'),
    array('category' => 'corp','industry' => 'Management Consulting'),
    array('category' => 'tran','industry' => 'Maritime'),
    array('category' => 'corp','industry' => 'Market Research'),
    array('category' => 'corp','industry' => 'Marketing and Advertising'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Marketing and Advertising'),
    array('category' => 'cons','industry' => 'Mechanical or Industrial Engineering'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Mechanical or Industrial Engineering'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Mechanical or Industrial Engineering'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Media Production'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Media Production'),
    array('category' => 'hlth','industry' => 'Medical Devices'),
    array('category' => 'hlth','industry' => 'Medical Practice'),
    array('category' => 'hlth','industry' => 'Mental Health Care'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Military'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Mining & Metals'),
    array('category' => 'art','industry' => 'Motion Pictures and Film'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Motion Pictures and Film'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Motion Pictures and Film'),
    array('category' => 'art','industry' => 'Museums and Institutions'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Museums and Institutions'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Museums and Institutions'),
    array('category' => 'art','industry' => 'Music'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Music'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Nanotechnology'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Nanotechnology'),
    array('category' => 'tech','industry' => 'Nanotechnology'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Newspapers'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Newspapers'),
    array('category' => 'org','industry' => 'Non-Profit Organization Management'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Oil & Energy'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Online Media'),
    array('category' => 'corp','industry' => 'Outsourcing/Offshoring'),
    array('category' => 'serv','industry' => 'Package/Freight Delivery'),
    array('category' => 'tran','industry' => 'Package/Freight Delivery'),
    array('category' => 'good','industry' => 'Packaging and Containers'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Packaging and Containers'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Paper & Forest Products'),
    array('category' => 'art','industry' => 'Performing Arts'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Performing Arts'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Performing Arts'),
    array('category' => 'hlth','industry' => 'Pharmaceuticals'),
    array('category' => 'tech','industry' => 'Pharmaceuticals'),
    array('category' => 'org','industry' => 'Philanthropy'),
    array('category' => 'art','industry' => 'Photography'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Photography'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Photography'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Plastics'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Political Organization'),
    array('category' => 'org','industry' => 'Political Organization'),
    array('category' => 'edu','industry' => 'Primary/Secondary Education'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Printing'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Printing'),
    array('category' => 'corp','industry' => 'Professional Training & Coaching'),
    array('category' => 'corp','industry' => 'Program Development'),
    array('category' => 'org','industry' => 'Program Development'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Public Policy'),
    array('category' => 'corp','industry' => 'Public Relations and Communications'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Public Safety'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Publishing'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Publishing'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Railroad Manufacture'),
    array('category' => 'agr','industry' => 'Ranching'),
    array('category' => 'cons','industry' => 'Real Estate'),
    array('category' => 'fin','industry' => 'Real Estate'),
    array('category' => 'good','industry' => 'Real Estate'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Recreational Facilities and Services'),
    array('category' => 'serv','industry' => 'Recreational Facilities and Services'),
    array('category' => 'org','industry' => 'Religious Institutions'),
    array('category' => 'serv','industry' => 'Religious Institutions'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Renewables & Environment'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Renewables & Environment'),
    array('category' => 'org','industry' => 'Renewables & Environment'),
    array('category' => 'edu','industry' => 'Research'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Research'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Restaurants'),
    array('category' => 'serv','industry' => 'Restaurants'),
    array('category' => 'good','industry' => 'Retail'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Retail'),
    array('category' => 'corp','industry' => 'Security and Investigations'),
    array('category' => 'org','industry' => 'Security and Investigations'),
    array('category' => 'serv','industry' => 'Security and Investigations'),
    array('category' => 'tech','industry' => 'Semiconductors'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Shipbuilding'),
    array('category' => 'good','industry' => 'Sporting Goods'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Sporting Goods'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Sports'),
    array('category' => 'corp','industry' => 'Staffing and Recruiting'),
    array('category' => 'good','industry' => 'Supermarkets'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Telecommunications'),
    array('category' => 'tech','industry' => 'Telecommunications'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Textiles'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Think Tanks'),
    array('category' => 'org','industry' => 'Think Tanks'),
    array('category' => 'good','industry' => 'Tobacco'),
    array('category' => 'corp','industry' => 'Translation and Localization'),
    array('category' => 'gov','industry' => 'Translation and Localization'),
    array('category' => 'serv','industry' => 'Translation and Localization'),
    array('category' => 'tran','industry' => 'Transportation/Trucking/Railroad'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Utilities'),
    array('category' => 'fin','industry' => 'Venture Capital & Private Equity'),
    array('category' => 'tech','industry' => 'Venture Capital & Private Equity'),
    array('category' => 'hlth','industry' => 'Veterinary'),
    array('category' => 'tran','industry' => 'Warehousing'),
    array('category' => 'good','industry' => 'Wholesale'),
    array('category' => 'good','industry' => 'Wine and Spirits'),
    array('category' => 'man','industry' => 'Wine and Spirits'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Wine and Spirits'),
    array('category' => 'tech','industry' => 'Wireless'),
    array('category' => 'art','industry' => 'Writing and Editing'),
    array('category' => 'med','industry' => 'Writing and Editing'),
    array('category' => 'rec','industry' => 'Writing and Editing')
);

@dani

Thank you very much!
This can be my starting point! Saying this, if you come across anymore, Like facebook, google, bing, etc. ones, then do drop us a line here (if you do not mind).

Cheers!

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.