Use Consistent Navigation
What It Is
Using the same general navigation scheme across your website is a best practice for managing your agency’s website.
Why It’s Important
Consistent navigation makes websites easier to use because visitors don't have to learn a new navigation scheme on each new page.
Visitors are more likely to get what they need from a website if they are familiar with its navigation scheme.
Specific Policy, Legal or Other Requirements for Doing This
Using consistent navigation is a best practice, not a requirement. However, there are 2 sections of the OMB Policies for Federal Agency Public Websites that require you to disseminate information in an efficient way and assist the public to locate government information:
Section 1A: “disseminate information to the public in a timely, equitable, efficient and appropriate manner,”
Section 5A & B: “assist the public in locating government information” “disseminate information to the public in a timely, equitable, efficient and appropriate manner”
How to Implement
Put navigational items that appear on every page (such as the link back to the homepage) in the same location on each page. Make sure they have the same appearance and wording.
Use the same layout, appearance and wording for pages that are logically grouped (for example, by topic, audience, or organization).
Make sure your navigation works the same way from page to page. For example, if a set of pages on one topic has subtopic links in the left navigation bar, pages on other topics should also have subtopic links in the left navigation bar that look and behave the same way.
If a particular set of web pages requires specialized navigation, you should apply that navigation to the largest possible logical grouping (such as a topic, an audience, or a complete organizational unit).
Examples
HUD’s website uses a standard template, which is an easy way to make sure your navigation is consistent. This template puts the same navigation at the top of every page, and the same navigation on the left side of every major page.
Department of Education’s Website separates its navigational elements from its main content. The content of the page is generated on its own and a separate web server applies the navigation.
Resources
Usability.gov provides specific guidance on how to improve your website navigation, based on user research and testing.
Many federal public websites follow this best practice. This practice is part of the guidelines and best practices published by the Interagency Committee on Government Information to aid agencies' implementation of OMB Policies for Public Websites.
Page Updated or Reviewed: August 25, 2006
