Navigation Definitions - I

Navigation in software is quite ubiquitous. It applies to almost any type of software from enterprise to personal applications running on any platform including desktops, hand-held devices, appliances, games, and of course the web. Essentially, whenever there is an interaction between a piece of software and a user, navigation is required.

Navigation has two main purposes:

 Access to information which could be a static content such as an article in a webpage, or a dynamic content such as a record in a database; or

 Perform a function like register, login, logoff, comment, rate, review, refer, share, tag, bookmark, blog, chat, search, categorize, organize, reserve, buy, etc. All such functions require a new screen to be displayed in order to perform its function. Those functions should not be confused with commands such as save, submit, add, delete, edit, post, preview, print, cut, copy, paste, drag, drop, size, or sort all of which are execution commands and not navigation functions – a nuance but an important distinction. Typically, execution commands, which are tightly related to the content, must be in close proximity of the content, preferably in a bottom toolbar below the content as shown in the screenshot below. On the other hand, buttons representing functions, which may or may not have any relationship with the displayed content, can

be placed anywhere, but preferably in a top toolbar.