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Navigation -- Dos and Don'ts
Why: Web sites are often top-heavy with menu items and screen readers must read all these items each time a page is loaded before the main content is read. Even a repeating menu of just five links can quickly become annoying. Further, more recent screen reader updates include an auto-detect feature that automatically positions the cursor at the "content" anchor rather than reading the full menus. How: This in-page link may be either visible or invisible. You can make it invisible by using a style sheet to color the text the same color as the page background or by using a transparent image link (no less than 2 pixels by 2 pixels). Place an anchor/bookmark in the page immediately before the start of the content. Link the skip navigation text or image to that anchor. The link text or image ALT tag should be either "skip navigation" or "skip nav."
More Navigation Hints and Tips for Accessible Design.
Why: More choices do not always mean better choices. Users need help narrowing choices in making fast decisions. While the form of navigation -- navigation bar, breadcrumb navigation, text navigation -- should be consistent throughout the site, it is preferable to change the navigation options to fit the particular function of the site page. A page directed at students may not need to include links to pages directed at faculty or staff. How: Don't put a link to every page in your site on every page in your site. Help users navigate your site by creating navigation paths for different users -- students follow one path, instructors another, and administrators yet another. Then you need only include links to the start of each major "path" on each page.
Why: As a site grows, it is important to help users find what they are looking for quickly. By differentiating between visited and unvisited links, you help the user quickly return to a desired section or narrow-down choices when looking for specific information. How: Don't use style sheets to make all links look the same. Whenever possible, use the universally recognized colors: blue = unvisited link; violet/red = visited link.
Why: Forcing users to use your own navigation system including a script created back button or frame navigation, reduces the functionality of the site and can be extremely disorienting. Users cannot bookmark pages to "jump" back to specific information and cannot "back out" of navigation when they have taken the wrong path. How: Avoid frames whenever possible. Do not turn off browser navigation, such as the back button. Do not open pages in new windows.
Why: Generic Error 404 pages offer no help when users are looking for a specific page in your site. Automatic redirects break the history list and can cause continual loops when using the back button to return to the previously viewed page. How: Create an Error 404 page with a link to your home page and site map and, if possible, include a search option on the page. Do not automatically direct users to moved pages: provide the new URL on the old page and ask users to use the new link.
Why: Different users rely on different browsing strategies: some like to use the site search, others use the navigation menus, and others prefer a well-organized site map that conveys the "lay of the land" and offers both a text-based and visual interpretation of the sites organization. How: Organize your site map using headers and lists. Avoid tables. Users who choose to navigate the site using the site map do not need/want the other elements on the site map page -- remove duplicate navigation menus and search boxes and make the site map page as clean and simple as possible.
Get more help with navigation, visit WAI's "13. Provide clear navigation mechanisms".
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