Oct 27 2008
Expandable/collapsible navigation: good idea or bad?
I was working on a project for my actual paying job, and I couldn’t decide on how I wanted the navigation structured. The project has a table of contents containing pages and subpages. There are so many links that the page is forced to scroll based solely on the navigation. I was thinking of using expandable/collapsible links for the subpages to shorten the navigation. I went back and forth, weighing the pros and cons of listing every link versus expandable links.
In the end, listing every link won out. Here’s why.
For the project I’m working on there are 26 main pages. Over half of these have subpages. As you can imagine, having a collapsible navigation was very tempting as this would allow all of the links to show on the page without the page scrolling due to the navigation. It would also allow for some fun effects. An important factor for this project, however, is the ability to keep track of where you are and where you have been. Having a constant view of the navigation is a high priority. For this particular project, eye candy is a secondary concern–this project’s look-and-feel is all about function. Design (as always) is necessary, however, there is already a built in audience. This is a reference document; nothing is being sold.
So a full-view navigation was chosen. Remember that good design essentially means understanding the audience and giving them what they need. Even if it means the look-and-feel is not as fun, nor as exciting as you would like to make it.
Here’s how the project is being received:
The Release Notes have been given an updated look and feel and are reformatted for better User navigation.
I like the new release notes…. very convenient!
What do you think? When is it appropriate to use expandable/collapsible navigation, and when should you stay away from it?
Jeremy,
You have valid points, and normally, I would disagree with me too.
For this particular project, however, the reader needs to be able to see every link, as this is a reference document. New users to our LMS will not be familiar with the terms used. As a result, they will not know which top-level link to select, to find the secondary link they may be looking for.
As a general rule, if a site/blog has the need for a more complicated navigation, collapsible nav is the way to go. One point I wanted to make with this article is that even though collapsible navigation is preferable in most cases, good design means understanding the audience and catering to their needs.
Thank you for your comments and your excellent points regarding collapsible navigation. I like your unique blog look, BTW.