In the vast world of web design, navigation plays a crucial role in ensuring users can easily find information and navigate through a site. Beyond the traditional menus and links, one UX design element that has proven to be a game-changer for seo sutton coldfield websites is breadcrumb navigation. It serves as a secondary navigation tool that can enhance user experience by guiding visitors through content and helping them retrace their steps.
In this article, we’ll dive into what breadcrumb navigation is, the types of breadcrumbs you can implement, and the best practices for using them to optimize your website’s navigation.
What is Breadcrumb Navigation?
Breadcrumb navigation is a secondary navigation element located near the top of a webpage, typically just below the header. It provides a “trail” of links that helps users understand their location on a website and easily navigate back to previous pages. This concept is inspired by the breadcrumbs left by Hansel and Gretel in the fairy tale, guiding them back home.
Types of Breadcrumb Navigation
There are several types of breadcrumb navigation you can use, depending on the structure and goals of your website:
1. Location-Based Breadcrumbs (Hierarchy-Based)
This type of breadcrumb trail follows a hierarchical structure, showing the user’s journey from the homepage to their current page. It’s especially useful for sites with multiple categories or content levels.
Example: On eCommerce sites like Target, the breadcrumb trail could look like this:
Home > Shoes > Kids’ Shoes
This indicates that the user is viewing the “Kids’ Shoes” page and provides a clear path back to the homepage or broader categories, such as “Shoes.”
- Example in action (Target):
- Home (link to homepage)
- Shoes (category)
- Kids’ Shoes (sub-category)
This breadcrumb setup not only offers easy backtracking but also helps visitors gain an understanding of the site’s structure and content. It’s especially useful on eCommerce and content-heavy sites, where visitors may want to jump to related categories or explore similar options.
Example from IKEA:
Home > Inspiration > A Stately Look for Any Era
Here, visitors can trace their path, starting from the homepage to the “Inspiration” section, and even narrow down to a specific article.
2. Attribute-Based Breadcrumbs
This breadcrumb style is particularly useful for filtering results, often seen in eCommerce stores. Attribute-based breadcrumbs display the user’s current page along with applied filters, allowing them to remove or modify filters easily.
Example: On websites like Gaiam, breadcrumbs display the main category with active filter options:
YOGA MATS (no link) > Standard > 5MM > Latex-free > 4-star & up
In this case, each filter is displayed as part of the breadcrumb trail. It helps users stay informed about their search parameters and enables them to quickly change or remove filters without losing their place.
- Example from Bed, Bath & Beyond:
mathematica
SHOP BY ROOM > BEDROOM
Sleep - Product Type: Comfort Set > In Stock > Comforter Set > Queen
This example separates standard breadcrumbs from filter breadcrumbs, making it clear where the user is and what filters are applied. It’s an excellent way to streamline product search.
3. History-Based Breadcrumbs
The third type of breadcrumb navigation is history-based, which tracks the user’s actions within a session. While this can be useful in certain scenarios, it’s rarely practical for most websites, especially if users are navigating a variety of items across multiple categories. It can easily become overwhelming or messy, making it difficult for users to follow their navigation path.
For example, if someone browses through 10 different products or categories in a single session, a history-based breadcrumb trail could become cluttered with numerous pages, making the navigation feel chaotic.
Best Practices for Implementing Breadcrumbs
When adding breadcrumb navigation to your site, consider the following best practices to ensure they are both effective and useful:
- Keep It Simple: Ensure that breadcrumb navigation isn’t overcomplicated with too many categories or links. Ideally, breadcrumbs should be concise and easy to follow.
- Use Clear Labels: The text within the breadcrumb trail should be descriptive and intuitive. For instance, instead of using generic terms like “Page 1” or “Category 2,” opt for clear, recognizable labels like “Shoes” or “Home Decor.”
- Link the Breadcrumb Items: While the last item in the breadcrumb trail (i.e., the current page) should not be a clickable link, ensure that the other breadcrumb items are clickable to allow easy navigation back to previous pages.
- Don’t Overload with Filters: While filter breadcrumbs are useful, don’t overload the breadcrumb trail with excessive filter options. Group related filters and only display the most relevant ones.
- Mobile-Friendly: On mobile, breadcrumbs should remain visible and not be squished into hard-to-read formats. Keep them easily clickable and consider condensing the labels if necessary.
Conclusion
Breadcrumb navigation is a powerful tool for improving the usability and user experience of your website. It helps users maintain orientation, navigate with ease, and retrace their steps quickly. Whether you choose location-based, attribute-based, or even history-based breadcrumbs, the key is to implement them thoughtfully so they serve their intended purpose without overwhelming the user.
By following best practices and adapting the breadcrumb style to suit your site’s content and structure, you can boost your website’s usability and ensure visitors stay engaged and satisfied with their browsing experience.