Standard: Table of Contents and Links to "Top of Page"
Brief description
(see the full document below for details)
The table of contents is a set of links at the top of longer web pages which provides the visitor with an easy means to quickly review what is contained on the page as well as to move immediately to the section of the page they are interested in. This standard includes the table of contents itself, and internal page links to the table of contents.
On this page
All standards and guidance
Content requirements
- On pages with more than one main section that are more than two screenfuls long:
- Write a short blurb for the page (one sentence may be sufficient) unless the information presented on the page is completely intuitive.
- After the introduction, create a bulleted table of contents with links to each heading. If the page presents questions and answers, the links will be to the questions.
Top of page
Style requirements
- Items in the table of contents use the default text and link style. Do not use headings or bold text.
- If the only links at the top of the page are within the table of contents, there is no heading or description before the table of contents. If there are other links provided at the top of the page, then precede the table of contents with the following in bold text: "On this page"
- There is a hard rule between the end of all links at the top of a page and the first content section. Each section's heading uses an HTML heading (e.g., <h3>) sized appropriately to the content.
- At the end of each section, add a link to "Top of page" followed by a horizontal rule
Top of page
How to
At the bottom of each section use the #content p.pagetop style, or add this code:
<p class="pagetop"><a href="#content">Top of page</a></p>
<hr />
Top of page
Examples
Each example shows how links would be displayed, but the links don't work.
- Table of contents with introductory blurb. Since there are no links outside the page, "On this page" doesn't appear.
OPA Review of Web Concepts and Drafts:
What We Look For
Version: December 14, 2005
This page explains EPA Web design and content standards to help you produce top-notch pages.
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- Table of contents showing how to use "On this page" when there are also links outside the page.
Web Content Development Resources
This page provides references with detailed instructions, standards, and guidance for creating materials on EPA's Web site.
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On this page
Other resources
- Web governance contacts: Content and Infrastructure Coordinators, Communications Directors, etc.
- EPA Web Guide: Includes technical aspects of Web development (for example, how to create a directory)
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- Section of a page showing the "Top of page" link and horizontal rule at the end.
Phases of Review
OPA reviews Web materials at two phases: concept and draft. Concept review is the first time OPA sees an idea and has an opportunity to provide input; it does not involve a developed set of materials, but rather the idea for something. Draft review, which can entail several rounds of comments and editing, prepares materials for final posting to EPA's Web site.
Top of page
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Top of page
Rationale
A table of contents shows readers a broad overview of what your page offers and makes it easy to navigate within long pages. Use "top of page" because words like "return" and "back" mean "go to the previous page." People jumping to a particular spot on a page from a search engine or another page will think "back" means returning to that page instead of the top of the current page.
Top of page
Related governance documents
EPA
Related Policies
Related Procedures
Related Standards
Related Guidance
Non-EPA
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Full Metadata about this standard
Name Table of Contents and Links to "Top of Page"
Tracking number NT00000000
Type Standard
Required or Recommended Required
Effective date 03/13/2006
Date approved 03/13/2006
Category Links and Navigation, Page Elements
Web Council review by 09/01/2008 (or earlier if deemed necessary by the Web Council)
Governing Policy Web Governance and Management (PDF) (4 pp, 339K, About PDF)
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