There are three components in the taxonomy proposed by Benjamin Bloom et al.

Affective

The way people react emotionally, their ability to feel another living things pain or joy. see also affective filter Affective objectives typically target the awareness and growth in attitudes, emotion, and feelings. See affective spectrum.

Psychomotor

The ability to physically manipulate a tool or instrument like a hand or a hammer. Psychomotor objectives usually focus on change and/or development in behaviour and/or skills.

Cognitive

This is the ability 'to think things through'. Cognitive objectives revolve around knowledge and comprehension of any given topic.

There are six levels in the taxonomy, moving through the lowest order processes to the highest:

Knowledge

Exhibit memory of previously-learned materials by recalling facts, terms, basic concepts and answers

Comprehension

Demonstrative understanding of facts and ideas by organizing, comparing, translating, interpreting, giving descriptions, and stating main ideas

Application

Solve problems to new situations by applying acquired knowledge, facts, techniques and rules in a different way

Analysis

Examine and break information into parts by identifying motives or causes. Make inferences and find evidence to support generalizations

Synthesis

Compile information together in a different way by combining elements in a new pattern or proposing alternative solutions

Evaluation

Present and defend opinions by making judgments about information, validity of ideas or quality of work based on a set of criteria