Breadcrumbs are a type of navigational aid used on websites to help users track their location within the site. These are small text paths, usually found at the top of a webpage, that show users the hierarchy of pages they’ve navigated through. Each part of the breadcrumb trail is clickable, allowing users to quickly jump back to a previous section or the homepage.
Types of Breadcrumbs
- Hierarchy-based: Shows the path based on the site’s structure (e.g., Home > Category > Subcategory).
- Attribute-based: Commonly used on e-commerce sites, displaying product attributes (e.g., Home > Shoes > Men > Size).
- History-based: Reflects the user’s navigation path (e.g., Previous page > Current page).
Why Breadcrumbs Matter
Breadcrumbs improve user experience by making navigation easier, helping users understand where they are within the site structure. They also assist search engines like Google in understanding site structure, which can positively impact SEO rankings.
How to Effectively Implement Breadcrumbs
- Label Breadcrumbs Clearly: Ensure each breadcrumb is clear and reflects the section or page it represents. Avoid generic labels like “Page 1.”
- Keep Navigation Simple: Stick to your website’s natural structure and make the breadcrumb path easy to follow.
- Use on All Relevant Pages: Add breadcrumbs to pages where users might need help navigating back.
- Mobile Optimization: Ensure breadcrumbs are easy to use on mobile devices.
- Clickable Elements: Allow users to click each breadcrumb to navigate back to higher-level sections.