Use Consistent Navigation

What It Is

To make your website easier to use, apply the same navigation scheme across the 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 faster if they are familiar with its navigation scheme.

Specific Requirements

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 (PDF, 13 MB, 13 pages, August 2006) provides specific guidance on how to improve your website navigation, based on user research and testing.