Navigation

Navigation is a component on a webpage or a series of grouped components that are used as the primary source of access to the pages within a site. Components of navigation include left-side and vertical navigation, bread-crumb trails and hyperlinks. The arrangement of navigation has a strong relationship to the site's information architecture.

Tell Me About?

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.

Good website navigation allows users to easily answer the following questions for every page of the site:

• What site am I on?
• Where am I in the site?
• What can I do here?
• Where can I go to from here?
• Where is the information I'm looking for?

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

• Global navigation. This is persistent 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 links 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.

Why Must I?

There are no mandatory Australian Government requirements for this topic.

How Do I?

• Website Navigation (AGIMO, Better Practice Checklist)

Who Can Help?

For queries and assistance contact:

Better Practice
Australian Government Information Management Office
Department of Finance and Deregulation
better.practice@finance.gov.au

What's Related?

• Information Architecture