DITA topics differ from traditional document types in several ways, offering a more structured and modular approach to content creation and management.

Traditional document types, such as Word documents or PDFs, are typically monolithic, linear, and focused on presenting content in a fixed format. They often follow a sequential narrative style, with content flowing from start to finish. Editing and maintaining large traditional documents can be cumbersome and may result in duplication of content, or worse, inconsistent duplication of content.

By comparison, DITA topics are structured, modular, and designed for content reuse and flexibility. DITA promotes a topic-based approach, where content is broken down into discrete units or topics, each addressing a specific subject or task. Topics are organized based on their type, making it easier to manage and update content in a more granular way.

To this end, DITA topics offer the advantages of modularity and reuse, structured information, content variants, conditional text, and content organization.

Modularity and Reuse:

DITA topics are designed to be modular, meaning that each topic addresses a single concept, task, or piece of information.

This modularity allows for easy content reuse. Topics can be used in multiple documents or contexts without duplication, promoting consistency.

Structured Information:

DITA topics follow a structured approach, often consisting of standardized elements like titles, sections, steps, descriptions, examples, and more.

This structured approach enforces consistency and facilitates automated processing of content.

Content Variants:

DITA allows for the creation of content variants. For example, a single topic might have variants in different languages, making localization more efficient.

Conditional Text:

DITA supports conditional text, where certain content is included or excluded based on conditions like audience type or product version.

Content Organization:

DITA categorizes topics into specific types, such as tasks, concepts, references, and glossaries, each with its own predefined structure.

Traditional documents, on the other hand, often follow a linear structure where content flows from introduction to conclusion.

Example:

Traditional Document (User Manual):

Title: User Manual for XYZ Software
1. Introduction
   - Overview of the software
2. Installation
   - Step-by-step installation instructions
3. Features
   - Detailed description of software features
4. Troubleshooting
   - Common issues and solutions
5. Conclusion
   - Closing remarks and contact information
    

DITA Topics (User Manual):

• Task Topic (How to Install XYZ Software)
• Concept Topic (Understanding XYZ Software Features)
• Reference Topic (XYZ Software Features and Settings)
• Troubleshooting Topic (Troubleshooting XYZ Software Issues)

In this example, the DITA approach breaks down the user manual into modular topics, each serving a specific purpose. This modular structure allows for easy updates, reuse, and customization of content for different contexts or products.