What is Breadcrumb Navigation?
Breadcrumb navigation consists of a trail of internal links, known as “breadcrumbs,” that show users their location within a website’s hierarchy. Named after the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale, it typically appears horizontally at the top of a webpage, under the main navigation, and helps users understand their current position and navigate back to previous sections.
Types of Breadcrumbs:
- Hierarchy-Based: Shows the user’s position in the site’s structure.
- Attribute-Based: Organized by attributes or filters, often used in e-commerce.
- History-Based: Shows the specific path taken by the user.
Importance:
- Enhances User Experience: Simplifies navigation and reduces clicks needed to return to higher-level pages.
- SEO Benefits: Helps search engines understand site structure, improves mobile usability, and can lower bounce rates.
- Appearance in SERPs: Breadcrumb trails can appear in search results, aiding users in understanding page context.
Implementation:
- WordPress Plugins: Use plugins like Yoast SEO.
- Manual HTML and CSS: Create breadcrumbs with HTML lists and style with CSS.
- Structured Data: Implement structured data to make breadcrumbs appear in SERPs.
Best Practices:
- Supplemental Navigation: Breadcrumbs should support, not replace, primary navigation.
- Clear Separators: Use characters like “>” or “/” to separate links.
- Complete Path: Show the full navigational path from the homepage to the current page.
- Design Considerations: Keep breadcrumbs unobtrusive and simple, typically at the top right of the page with a small, readable font.
By following these guidelines, breadcrumb navigation can significantly improve both user experience and SEO performance.
