The navigation of the website is one of the most important part of any website, it makes it easier use and navigate through. This the main way the audience uses the website and looks around.
Planning site navigation:
- create usable navigation
- adding contextual linking
- text based navigation summary
- using graphics for navigation and linking
Effective navigation:
It not only about providing links to pages, but includes cues to where the user are presently . The user should be able to answer the following:
- where am I ?
- Where can I go?
- How do I get there ?
- How do I get back to where I started ?
There are number ways navigation should be done:
- Site navigation area – Provide an area that is consistent on every page that allows for navigation to all main pages and main section
- Search function – If a user is lost or struggling to locate the information they desire, a search function can be the difference between clicking away from your site and finding exactly what is desired.
- Breadcrumb location path – Bread crumbs are great as they show as users current location within a sites hierarchy. A user can click on the links to move through content structure. They are particularly useful if a user has arrived at a content page from outside the site.
- Section headings – Clearly defined sections will help a user to understand where they are and what they are viewing. Headings can often have links just beneath to related sections.
- Links to related content – Providing in-text links and hyperlinked content allows a
user to quickly navigate to related content, rather than having to sift through navigation sections for a piece of information that may be deep in hierarchy.
- Show users where they have been– This can be achieved simply by having links change colour when they have been visited. Including breadcrumbs is another common solution. Use blue for un-clicked and purple for clicked links.
- Let users know where they are going
- Provide context
- Be consistent
Shyna's Web Media Production | Sem 1 