Navigation

Navigating a web document differs from navigating the Web. A web document fits within one or more web pages and covers a focused topic. The web page is the unit displayed to the user and can contain one or more web documents (as well as other web elements).

NAVIGATING DOCUMENTS

When writing a document for the Web, use links to guide the reader through the document. Think of "linking" as the quickest means to get the user to the most relevant information. Whenever possible, state conclusions and link to supporting details; enumerate categories and link to lists; summarize and link to full-length treatments. This allows the user to scan the contents of a page and select relevant and useful information.

Links embedded in a document are the primary links that you want a reader to see; since readers use links as guideposts in scanning, you want to use them correctly and write in a way that takes best advantage of them. Only the most pertinent should be "part" of the document. Don't let links become a distraction. Position less relevant, but meaningful links of additional information in the web page's margin or at the end of the document under a "See Also" label.

NAVIGATING THE WEB

If a link takes the user "outside" the document, then its purpose is to navigate the Web site (or direct the reader to a third-party web site). Whenever possible, links such as these should guide the user to additional information that is directly connected--not only to the topic of the document, but to the topic of the paragraph or section being read.