Navigation

In support of the “all this stuff is connected” train of thought, the navigational components of the interface are a direct result of the decisions and tradeoffs embedded in the organizational model. Where the organizational model might say “We’re going to have a hierarchical organization with 8 primary categories and 39 subcategories,” the role of navigation is to describe the exact mechanisms allowing users to move between those categories and subcategories. The following sections examine the qualities of a well-behaved navigation scheme as well as the navigational conventions associated with different organizational models.

Navigation: What’s It Good For?

Without a doubt, navigation is one of the most talked-about topics in ...

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