Navigability
These are recommendations, not hard-and-fast rules.
- Do not create or direct users into pages that have no navigational options.
- Clearly differentiate navigation elements from one another, but group and place them in a consistent and easy to find place on each page.
- On long pages, provide a ’list of contents’ with links that take users to the corresponding content farther down the page.
- Provide feedback to let users know where they are in the Web site.
- Place the primary navigation menus in the left panel, and the secondary and tertiary menus together.
- Ensure that tab labels are clearly descriptive of their function or destination.
- Ensure that navigation tabs are located at the top of the page, and look like clickable versions of real-world tabs.
- Do not require users to scroll purely navigational pages.
- Use site maps for Web sites that have many pages.
Navigation should:
- Be easy to learn.
- Be consistent throughout the Web site.
- Provide feedback.
- Use the minimum number of clicks to arrive at the next destination.
- Use clear and intuitive labels.
- Support user tasks.
- Have each link be distinct from other links.
- Group navigation into logical units.
- Avoid making the user scroll to get to important navigation or submit buttons.
- Not disable the browser's back button.
Source: usabilityfirst.com
