The system of classification on this site follows AlgaeBase.

The phyla and classes in the table are linked to the relevant pages in Algaebase which will then link to the lower taxonomic groups (order, family, genus). The links to the vernacular group names are to the sections in this website where members of the various phyla are described.

Group common name	AlgaeBase classification
Cryptomonads	Phylum Cryptophyta, class Cryptophyceae
Stoneworts	Phylum Charophyta, class Charophyceae
Desmids	Phylum Charophyta, class Zygnematophyceae
Green algae, green seaweeds	Phylum Chlorophyta
Cyanobacteria	Phylum Cyanobacteria, class Cyanophyceae
Euglenoids	Phylum Euglenozoa
Glaucophytes	Phylum Glaucophyta
Haptophytes	Phylum Haptophyta
Dinoflagellates	Phylum Miozoa, class Dinophyceae
Diatoms	Phylum Ochrophyta, class Bacillariophyceae
Golden or golden-brown algae	Phylum Ochrophyta, class Chrysophyceae and Synurophyceae
Eustigmatophytes	Phylum Ochrophyta, class Eustigmatophyceae
Brown algae	Phylum Ochrophyta, class Phaeophyceae
Raphidophytes	Phylum Ochrophyta, class Raphidophyceae
Yellow-green algae	Phylum Ochrophyta, class Xanthophyceae
Red algae, red seaweeds	Phylum Rhodophyta