Designing Web Navigation

DYNAMIC MENUS

Also known as fly-out menus, pull-down menus, or pop-up menus, dynamic menus provide quick access to navigation options. They are considered "dynamic" because visitors must interact with them before they display. After the visitor selects a navigation option with a mouse rollover or click, the site presents a menu window similar to those found in software applications.

A key advantage to this mechanism is ready access to more options than could otherwise be displayed on a single page. The downside is potentially reduced visibility of these options. Visitors have to explore more before making a navigation decision.

If the dynamic menu displays with a simple mouse rollover, it's common to delay the appearance of the menu. The menu should first appear about a half-second after the mouse has rolled over the navigation point. The menu should stay open as long as the mouse is over the navigation point or within the menu area itself. After the mouse rolls out, the menu should close after about a half-second delay. Another variation is to have the menu close with a click elsewhere on the page.

Even with a delay, dynamic menus from vertical navigation menus can be problematic. Depending on the menu's placement, trying to select an option may cause people to move the mouse outside of the menu area or touch a neighboring option. Exact movement along the navigation label itself is required. Dynamic menus therefore work better with a horizontal navigation bar or with tabs: they drop ...