Every page in a web site must provide clear, unambiguous answers to the two basic questions users will ask themselves: "Where am I?" and "Where do I go from here?" (6.1) Like effective road signs, navigational tools on the web are designed to prevent people from getting lost--they are used to chart a course, determine a current position, and find a way back. They provide context and comfort for people exploring new areas.

Navigation involves interactivity--users move forward and backward, they click on interactive controls such as buttons and hyperlinks, and they select their path by observing and analyzing possible routes. Users navigate a site with a goal in mind--usually, they are searching for a particular piece of information. A successful navigational system must meet those goals.

An Overview of Navigation

The navigational system is the most important element in a web site--without it, users cannot access the content, and the site is useless. "A good navigation design will clarify the content and interactive structure, enhance the document's usability, and accommodate the user's needs" (Graham 53).