Web navigation

Web navigation is the process of navigating a network of information resources in the World Wide Web, which is organized as hypertext or hypermedia. The user interface that is used to do so is called a web browser.

A central theme in web design is the development of a web navigation interface that maximizes usability.

A website overall navigational scheme includes several navigational pieces such as global, local, supplemental, and contextual navigation; all of these are vital aspects of the broad topic of web navigation. Hierarchical navigation systems are vital as well since it is the primary navigation system. It allows for the user to navigate within the site using levels alone, which is often seen as restricting and requires additional navigation systems to better structure the website. The global navigation of a website, as another segment of web navigation, serves as the outline and template in order to achieve an easy maneuver for the users accessing the site, while local navigation is often used to help the users within a specific section of the site. All these navigational pieces fall under the categories of various types of web navigation, allowing for further development and for more efficient experiences upon visiting a web page.

Web navigation came about with the introduction of the World Wide Web in 1989, when Tim Berners-Lee invented it. Once the World Wide Web was available, web navigation increasingly became a major aspect and role in jobs and everyday lives. With one-third of the world’s population now using the Internet, web navigation maintains a global use in today's ever evolving international society. Web navigation is not restricted to just computers, either, as mobile phones and tablets have added avenues for access to the ever-growing information on the Web today. The most recent wave of technology which has affected web navigation is the introduction and growth of the smartphone. Web navigation has evolved from a restricted action, to something that many people across the world now do on a daily basis.

The use of website navigation tools allow for a website's visitors to experience the site with the most efficiency and the least incompetence. A website navigation system is analogous to a road map which enables web page visitors to explore and discover different areas and information contained within the website.

There are many different types of website navigation:

The structure of the website navigation is built from general to specific. This provides a clear, simple path to all the web pages from anywhere on the website.

Global website navigation shows the top level sections/pages of the website. It is available on each page and lists the main content sections/pages of the website.