How to build good website navigation

Technical Considerations:

• Consistency Across Devices: Ensure the navigation menu is the same for both mobile and desktop, especially regarding outbound links and content.
• Tag Usage: Use the <nav> tag to define your main menu, not the <div> tag.
• Functional Links: Check that all links are functional and free of errors (no broken links).
• Search Bar: If the site has multiple pages, incorporate a continuously visible search bar to help users navigate the content.

Design Considerations:

• Visibility: Menu options should be visible at once—avoid scrolling. This is crucial for user experience and ease of access.
• Hover States & Animations: Design hover states or animations to offer interactive feedback, guiding users through the navigation.
• Layout, Typography, & Icons: Structure navigation through clear, organized layout, readable typography, and optional icons.
• Contrast & Readability: Ensure high contrast between text and background for readability, especially in mobile views.

User Behavior Considerations:

• Avoid Redundancy: Don’t duplicate navigation options. Offering the same choice multiple times creates confusion about whether the options are identical and adds unnecessary bulk to the menu.

Footer Menu: Key Elements to Consider

Technical Considerations:

• Consistency Across Devices: Like the main navigation, ensure the footer menu displays consistently across mobile and desktop, with the same outbound links and content.
• Tag Usage: Use the <footer> tag to define the footer menu, not the <div> tag.
• Functional Links: All links in the footer should be functional and free of broken links.

Design Considerations:

• Grouped Items: Group links logically in the footer for easier navigation. Common categories include contact info, social media links, and legal information.
• Essential Links:
  • Social media buttons
  • Career page link
  • About page link
  • Privacy Policy, Terms of Use
  • Contact page
  • Links to internal pages and blog posts
  • Email signup (e.g., for newsletters)
• Call-to-Actions (CTAs): If relevant, include CTA buttons like “Contact Us” or “Get Started” to drive user action.

User Behavior Considerations:

• Clarity: Ensure each item (link) is clear, concise, and grouped logically. Avoid unnecessary repetition of the main menu links.
• Avoid Overcrowding: Like the main menu, your footer should be compact, showing only essential links to keep it user-friendly.

Navigation Menu Recommendations:

1. Mega Menu or Drop-Down for Desktop: Ideal for larger websites with numerous categories or options, these menus allow users to view many options at once without scrolling.
   • Characteristics:
     • Big panels divided into categories
     • Clear layout using typography and icons
     • Everything visible at once
     • Revealed on hover
   • Avoid Redundancy: Ensure each menu item is unique and not duplicated across the navigation.
2. Hamburger Menu for Mobile: This compact solution helps keep the interface clean while offering all the necessary navigation options in a collapsible format.