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What is Website Tabbed Navigation?

2 min to read

Tabbed navigation organizes content into sections on a single page via clickable tabs. It’s used in eCommerce and on other websites; the aim is so that users can switch between on-page elements.

Businesses use tabbed navigation for saving screen space. Use tabbed navigation when you have significant information to present and don’t want to overwhelm visitors/so that they can control what they see on the page.

Tabbed navigation might impact site accessibility through organizing content when implemented correctly. Users should find content more easily after you’ve implemented it, and for this reason, you must carefully consider your layout in the planning phase.

Think about color contrast, the level of compatibility on different screens, and whether users can navigate on their keyboards.

Pro Tips:
• Give your tabs clear labels to help users find information.
• If you’re an eCommerce website, consider using tab navigation for product details, reviews, shipping information, and other bits of information.
Key Takeaways:
  • While tabbed navigation can effectively organize content, use it carefully to avoid overwhelming users
  • Focus on accessibility and use logical ordering/clear labels
  • Instead of tabbed navigation, think about carousels/accordions if you have limited space
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What is Website Tabbed Navigation?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using website tabbed navigation?

While tabbed navigation is beneficial for organizing information and improving the user experience, you must understand when it might be disadvantageous.

Why it’s a good idea:

  • Saving Space: Use tabbed navigation to condense multiple pages (e.g., on a product page). 

  • Organization: Categorize related content so users can easily navigate your website; focus on not overloading them. 

  • User-Centricity: Tabbed navigation might give users more control over what they see; a single page could otherwise look disjointed.

  • Familiarity: Tabbed navigation uses an interface pattern the visitor has likely already seen.

Why it’s not always the best option:

  • Overwhelm: You can confuse users if you have too many tabs; being selective when using tabbed navigation will stop this. 

  • Mobile Design: Tabbed navigation is more suitable for desktop; on mobile devices, exploring an alternative approach may lead to better usability and engagement.

  • Accessibility: Consider whether your tabbed navigation is accessible.
Pro Tip:
Use information in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to design your tabbed navigation. 

What are some examples of websites that use tabbed navigation effectively?

Examples of websites using tabbed navigation include Gmail, Wikipedia, Notion, and Amazon. For example, when using Gmail, you’ll see tabs for different email types (Inbox, Unread, etc.). 

Amazon, meanwhile, uses tabs for product descriptions. You’ll also see tabbed navigation for customer reviews. Wikipedia uses tabbed navigation so that users can switch between different languages when viewing a page.

Conclusion

Tabbed navigation can be useful for content streamlining and user experience (if you understand its drawbacks and consider where it might not be the best option).

When implementing tabbed navigation, think about order, labels, and accessibility. Consider the amount of information you can add without overwhelming users, too; look at sites already using this element if you need an idea.

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