Lexicon: Breadcrumb
In this new Lexicon category, we will try to explain various web design terms in a collection of short, easy to understand articles. This is our first entry. Have fun learning with us!
Breadcrumb
In the science of web accessibility, breadcrumb is a form of navigation links designed to show user their current location inside a website. This is an example from Yahoo! Directory:
Also notice that the breadcrumb structure is similar with the URL format:
All items in the breadcrumb is hyperlinked, except for the current page, which is bolded to emphasize the “you are here effect”. For maximum effect, the breadcrumb is better placed on the top area of the page. And, if the page is quite long, placing another breadcrumb at the bottom is also a good idea.
The term “breadcrumb” came from the story Hansel and Gretel, where they left a trail of breadcrumbs to help them return back to home. Their breadcrumbs were then eaten by animals, causing them to get lost, but that’s another story.
