What is a Website Footer?

2 min to read

A website footer is a section at the very bottom of a webpage that contains additional information and links. Footers help visitors easily find important details that don’t fit on the main part of the page and give them extra ways to navigate your site.

Tip:
Keep your footer design simple and consistent with the rest of your website's look.
Key Takeaways:
  • Website footers enhance user experience
  • They provide a dedicated space for essential information (like contact details and sitemaps) and additional navigation options, ensuring visitors easily find what they need.
  • Footers should be clear and consistent
  • Design your footer to visually blend with your website's overall theme while standing out slightly to aid recognition. Prioritize the most important information for your visitors.
  • Footers are usually a 'must-have'
  • Including a footer on every page of your website aids navigation and ensures key details are always accessible, regardless of which page the user lands on.
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Here’s what you’ll commonly find in website footers:

  • Copyright information

  • Contact details

  • Links to important pages (Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, etc.)

  • Social media icons

  • Sitemap link

These elements are often essential but might distract from the main content if placed higher on the page. For example, e-commerce websites might also use the footer for an email signup form or to highlight current promotions.

While the footer shouldn’t be the star of the show, use a slightly different background color or subtle design element to visually separate it from the rest of the page. This helps users recognize it as a distinct navigational area. Alternatively, if you want a very minimalist look, keep the footer the same color as your background but use whitespace strategically to set it apart.

Yes, most websites benefit from having a footer on every page. A consistent footer helps with navigation and ensures visitors can always find key information, no matter what page they’re on. Exception: If you have a single-page website, a footer might not be necessary.

Conclusion

A well-designed website footer offers a final touch that improves usability and provides key information. By understanding the purpose and features of footers, you can decide if and how to use one for maximum impact on your web presence.

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