47Map Elements
The Three-Click Rule Is Wrong But It Remains a Useful Axiom
The three-click rule has mythical status in the world of Web design. The rule
states that a Web user, and in this case a Web map user, should never have
to click more than three times with a pointing device (e.g., mouse) to obtain
the information desired. This rule rests on the belief that people like to nd
things on the Web quickly, or they will become frustrated and leave a Web
site. It is true that people become frustrated and leave Web sites when they
cannot intuitively nd what they are looking for. However, it is absolutely
untrue that the number of clicks one has to make to nd information has
anything to do with this frustration (Weinschenk, 2011).
Organize, T ...