To make your website easier to use, use the same navigation scheme across the website.
Why This Is 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.
OMB Policies for Federal Public Websites require agencies to (#1A) “disseminate information to the public in a timely, equitable, efficient and appropriate manner” and (#2A) “maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information and services provided to the public.” By using a consistent navigation scheme across your website, you'll make your audiences' visit much more efficient and useful.
Implementation Guidance:
- 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:
- Templates are an effective way to make sure that navigation is consistent. For example, the HUD website uses a standard template. This template puts the same navigation at the top of every page, and the same navigation on the left side of every major page.
- Another way to help make navigation consistent is to separate it from the content and generate it separately from individual files or a database. This is the approach taken on the Department of Education Website. The content of the page is generated separately and then the web server applies the navigation.
This practice is common on many federal public websites. The Interagency Committee on Government Information (ICGI) recommended that OMB endorse this practice, in its June 2004 report: Recommended Policies and Guidelines for Federal Public Websites.
Page Updated or Reviewed: May 27, 2005
