What are navigational conventions in UI design?

Navigation design enables users to go from one point to another in an interface seamlessly.

The UI designer should design the navigation in a user-centered way. This ensures that the navigation isn't confusing, which may stop the user from using the interface. In other words, it shouldn't be the user's duty to figure out where the interface's features are. The navigation should be easy and user-friendly.

Navigational conventions

There are some standard conventions and patterns used in navigation design. It is important to note that none of the conventions is better than the other. Instead, it depends on the context of the interface design to specify which convention is better to use. Following is a list of standard navigational conventions explained.

Hamburger menus

As the name suggests, the icon of a hamburger menu is represented just like layers in a hamburger. This icon is shown in a minimalistic way through three parallel horizontal lines. These lines also represent the idea that this button will display a list of items when clicked. 

The hamburger menu is handy when showing all navigation paths on one screen isn't feasible. Once a user clicks on the hamburger icon, all the possibilities are then displayed. 

Vertical sidebar menus

A vertical sidebar menu encloses all the navigation options in a single column, usually displayed on the left of the screen. Even though it takes up some part of the screen, it helps keep all the available primary and secondary options in one place.

Vertical sidebar menus are often combined with other patterns, such as hamburger menus and sub-menus. For example, a vertical menu can be displayed after a user clicks on the hamburger icon.

Top navigation bars

Navigation bars with links to other pages can be shown horizontally on the top of the interface. They help display all the features available to the user at a glance. Other navigational conventions, like drop-down menus, can be combined with navigation bars. For example, secondary options can drop down by clicking or hovering over the links in a top navigation bar. 

Navigation bars are commonly used on most websites. However, care should be taken so that the navigation is not cluttered with too many links that will overwhelm the user.

Call-to-action buttons

Call-to-action buttons are noticeable buttons that influence a user to perform a particular action. They are mainly shown on primary pages with contrasting colors to help bring the most attention to them.

Call-to-action buttons often navigate to an interface's most important page for business goals. For example, a button on an e-commerce website's homepage with the text 'Shop Now' will lead to more customers. 

Breadcrumbs

When users navigate a website, they leave breadcrumbs on their path. This route taken by the user to arrive at a specific page can be displayed on the screen. This navigation pattern is called breadcrumbs.

Breadcrumbs help reduce a user's memory load as the user does not have to remember where he is in the interface and how they reached there. By clicking on the links in the breadcrumbs, users can directly jump to any section they have visited previously.

Icons or symbols

We use icons or symbols to represent links to navigational options. However, the designer should choose the icons very carefully. Commonly used symbols should be used which make sense in the context. For example, the magnifying glass for search and the nut-bolt icon for settings is used conventionally. 

Icons are sometimes used along with textual labels. In this case, the label and symbol should have a consistent meaning, or the user will be confused.