Categories, Families, And Types - Autodesk 24000-000000-9860 - Revit Architecture - PC User Manual

There are 2 types of model elements:
Hosts (or host elements) are generally built in place at the construction site. Walls and roofs are examples
of hosts.
Model components are all the other types of elements in the building model. For example, windows,
doors, and cabinets are model components.
There are 2 types of view-specific elements:
Annotation elements are 2D components that document the model and maintain scale on paper. For
example, dimensions, tags, and keynotes are annotation elements.
Details are 2D items that provide details about the building model in a particular view. Examples include
detail lines, filled regions, and 2D detail components.

Categories, Families, and Types

Revit Architecture classifies elements by categories, families, types, and instances.
Category: A category is a group of elements that you use to model or document a building design. For
example, categories of model elements include walls and beams. Categories of annotation elements include
tags and text notes.
Family: Families are classes of elements in a category. A family groups elements with a common set of
parameters (properties), identical use, and similar graphical representation. Different elements in a family
may have different values for some or all properties, but the set of properties—their names and meaning—is
the same. For example, six-panel colonial doors could be considered one family, although the doors that
compose the family come in different sizes and materials. Structural members (such as w shapes) are another
family.
Type: Each family can have different types. A type can be a specific size of a family, such as a 30" X 42"(A0)
title block or a 32" x 84" (910 x 2110) door. A type can also be a style, such as default aligned or default
angular style for dimensions. A family can have several types. For example, a table may be available in several
sizes. Each size table is a different type within the same family.
Instance: Instances are the actual items (individual elements) that are placed in the project and have specific
locations in the building (model instances) or on a drawing sheet (annotation instances). Each instance
belongs to a family and, within that family, a particular type.
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