Web navigation

Web navigation refers to the process of navigating a network of information resources in the World Wide Web, which is organized as a hypertext or hypermedia. The user interface that is used to do so is called a web browser. A central theme in web design is the development of a web navigation interface that maximizes usability. A website's overall navigational scheme includes several navigational pieces such as global, local, supplemental, and contextual navigation, all of these are vital aspects of the broad topic of web navigation. Hierarchal navigation systems are vital as well since it is the primary navigation system. It allows for the user to navigate within the site using levels alone, which is often seen as restricting and requires additional navigation systems to better structure the website. The global navigation of a website, as another segment of web navigation, serves as the outline and template in order to achieve an easy maneuver for the users accessing the site, while local navigation is often used to help the users within a specific section of the site. All these navigational pieces fall under the categories of various types of web navigation, allowing for further development and for more efficient experiences upon visiting a webpage.

History

Web navigation came about with the introduction of the World Wide Web, in 1989 when Tim Burners-Lee invented it. Once the world wide web was available, web navigation increasingly became a major aspect and role in jobs and every day lives. With one-third of the world’s population now using the internet, web navigation maintains a global use in today's ever evolving international society. Web navigation is not restricted to just computers, either, as mobile phones and tablets have added avenues for access to the ever growing information on the web today.

Types of Web Navigation

The use of website navigation tools allow for a website's visitors to experience the site with the most efficiency and the least incompetence. A website navigation system is analogous to a road map which enables webpage visitors to explore and discover different areas and information contained within the website. There are many different types of website navigation:

• Hierarchical Website Navigation

The structure of the website navigation is built from general to specific. This provides a clear, simple path to all the web pages from anywhere on the website.

• Global Website Navigation

Global website navigation shows the top level sections/pages of the website. It is available on each page and lists the main content sections/pages of the website.

• Local Website Navigation

Local navigation would the links with the text of your web pages, linking to other pages within the website.

Styles of Web Navigation

Web navigations vary in styles between different website as well as within a certain site. The availability of different navigational styles allows for the information in the website to be delivered easily and directly. This also differentiates between categories and the sites themselves to indicate what the vital information is and to enable the users access to more information and facts discussed within the website. Across the globe, different cultures prefer certain styles for web navigations, allowing for a more enjoyable and functional experience as navigational styles expand and differentiate. Many different styles of web navigation are present, including:

• Text Links

The anchor text, link label, link text, or link title is the visible, clickable text in a hyperlink.

• Breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs or breadcrumb trail is a navigation aid used in user interfaces. It allows users to keep track of their locations within programs or documents. The term comes from the trail of breadcrumbs left by Hansel and Gretel in the popular fairytale.

• Navigation Bar

A navigation bar or (navigation system) is a section of a website or online page intended to aide visitors in travelling through the online document.

• Sitemap

A site map (or sitemap) is a list of pages of a web site accessible to crawlers or users. It can be either a document in any form used as a planning tool for Web design, or a Web page that lists the pages on a Web site, typically organized in hierarchical fashion.

• Dropdown Menu

In computing with graphical user interfaces, a dropdown menu or drop-down menu or drop-down list is a user interface control GUI element ("widget" or "control"), similar to a list box, which allows the user to choose one value from a list.

• Flyout Menu

In computing and telecommunications, a menu is a list of options or commands presented to an operator by a computer or communications system.

• Named anchor

An anchor element is called an anchor because web designers can use it to anchor a URL to some text on a web page. When users view the web page in a browser, they can click the text to activate the link and visit the page whose URL is in the link.

Design of web navigation

Some examples of clean and minimal web navigation design are Kilian Muster, bressane, Haik Avanian, and others.

See also

• Design pattern (computer science)
• Efficiency
• Human–computer interaction
• Interaction technique
• Mind map
• Pattern language
• Web traffic
• Traffic engineering (transportation)

References

• Akanda, Muhammed A.K. & German, Daniel M. (2005). "A System of Patterns in Web Navigation". Web engineering: 5th international conference, ICWE 2005, Sydney, Australia, July 27-29, 2005 : proceedings. Birkhäuser. p. 136. ISBN 978-3-540-27996-9. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |editors= ignored (|editor= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Kalbach, James(2007), Designing Web Navigation Worldcat

Additional verification

• Linda Tauscher and Saul Greenberg et al © Copyright ACM 1997 retrieved 23/09/11
• Steven.Pemberton et al Copyright is held by the author/owner retrieved 23/09/11
• Academia.edu short list{A.Genest retrieved 23/09/11

External links

• Sites about usability at UsableWeb