Central topic: definition and example
The central topic is the single topic at the middle of a mind map, the subject that every branch and subtopic in the map belongs to.
What it means
Every mind map has one central topic. It names what the whole map is about, so the rest of the map can be read as a breakdown of it. Many tools call the same thing the root topic.
Wording it
A short noun phrase works best: “Lisbon trip”, “Exam revision”, “Why sales dropped”. If you phrase it as a question, each branch becomes a part of the answer. Avoid a long sentence; the details belong on the branches.
How it differs from nearby terms
A main branch is a first-level child of the central topic, not the centre itself. A floating topic sits on the canvas without being attached to it. In a concept map, there may be no single centre at all.
In MindmapPal
New maps in the mind map maker start with a central topic you can rename straight away. Every map has exactly one.
Example
A map for a trip to Lisbon has the central topic "Lisbon trip". Its main branches are flights, places to stay, things to see, food and budget.
Related terms
- Mind map: A mind map is a diagram that puts one idea in the centre and arranges related ideas around it as branches, with the details of each branch nested under it.
- Main branch: A main branch is a topic attached directly to the central topic of a mind map, and it heads one major part of the subject with its own subtopics below it.
- Subtopic: A subtopic is a topic placed under another topic in a mind map, holding one detail, example or part of the idea above it.
- Floating topic: A floating topic is a topic placed freely on a mind map canvas, not connected to the central topic or to any branch.
See it in a template
Brainstorming mind map template