The collected Buddhist teachings have traditionally been classified in either nine or twelve divisions according to the style of exposition of early Buddhism. They are as follows (in Pāli, with the Sanskrit reading in parentheses, if different):

1. sutta (sūtra)
2. geyya (geya)
3. veyyākaraṇa (vyākaraṇa)
4. gāthā
5. udāna
6. itivuttaka (itivṛttaka)
7. jātaka
8. vedalla (vaipulya)
9. abbhutadhamma (adbhutadharma)
10. (nidāna)
11. (avadāna)
12. (upadeśa)

The first nine comprise the nine divisions; the total list is called the twelve divisions.