Websites Breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs provide context

Firstly, breadcrumbs are the interactive, text-based navigation links typically displayed at the top of a webpage showing the website’s internal page hierarchy. By including them, you provide context on where users currently are within your site. This helps users orient themselves and easily navigate to higher level pages.

For example, instead of simply showing “About Us” as the page title, breadcrumbs may show “Home > About > Our Team” indicating the internal page structure.

Breadcrumbs improve usability

Indeed, breadcrumbs improve the usability of your website by helping users understand where they are within your site structure and providing quick navigation options. This allows users to:

• Orient themselves easily: they show the “bread trail” that users followed to arrive at the current page. This helps users recognize where they are and find their bearings.
• Navigate up the hierarchy: Users can click on any parent link in their trail to instantly navigate up one level within the website hierarchy. This provides a quick “back” navigation option.
• Scan the information architecture: Users can scan the entire trail to get an overview of the website structure and where the current page fits within that architecture.

As a result, breadcrumbs reduce the time users spend navigating and searching for information on your website.

Incorporate breadcrumbs consistently

To maximize the benefits of breadcrumbs, incorporate them consistently across all pages of your website. Make sure:

• They appear in the same location: typically at the top of the page, directly below the main navigation.
• Link text is descriptive: Use short phrases that clearly indicate where the link navigates to.
• The trail is complete: Breadcrumbs should start from the home page and include all intermediate levels up to the current page.
• They reflect true hierarchy: They must accurately represent the internal page structure and category relationships.

These guidelines ensure users become familiar with the breadcrumb navigation and can then leverage it effectively as an additional tool for orienting and navigating your website.

Breadcrumbs complement main navigation

Finally, think of them as supplementing- not replacing- your main website navigation. While breadcrumbs provide quick “back” navigation, the main menu serves as the primary route for accessing major sections and important pages.

Used together, breadcrumbs and the main navigation provide a comprehensive yet visually uncluttered navigation system. This system enhances the usability and findability of content on your website.

In summary, including breadcrumbs can improve website usability, orientation and navigation. Therefore, helping users more easily find and consume the information they seek. So incorporate them consistently across your website and complement them with a clear main navigation to provide a user-friendly experience.