Navigation is a component or a series of grouped components on a webpage that enable access to pages within a site. Components of navigation may include left-side, horizontal and vertical navigation, drop-downs, breadcrumb trails and in-page hyperlinks. The arrangement of navigation has a strong relationship to the site’s information architecture.

Why should I?

Uniform navigation is one of the essential elements of visual design for Australian Government sites.

What should I do?

Website navigation is both the representation of the information architecture (the structure) of a site and the mechanism by which users move around the site.

A variety of website navigation types are used throughout a site. The most common types include:

• Global navigation. This is consistent across the entire site and usually allows easy access to major parts of the site.
• Local navigation. This allows people to move around in the part of the site that they are currently in.
• Contextual navigation. This groups together related pages and is often embodied as links within text or lists of ‘see also’ links.
• Supplemental navigation. This comprises additional navigation tools such as site maps, indexes and guides.

How do I?

When deciding on a navigation scheme, it is important that users can:

• determine what site they are on
• tell where they are in the site
• tell where to go next.

While providing a number of paths through the site to a particular piece of content, it is also necessary to ensure consistency within those paths.

Agencies also need to ensure the site remains accessible, ensuring that their navigation scheme:

• uses textual equivalents to supplement graphics for navigation elements
• describes links accurately
• is understood by users from culturally or linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Subjects:

• navigation
• IA