What is Breadcrumb Navigation?

Breadcrumb navigation is a secondary website navigation system that displays the user’s location within the site’s hierarchy. It provides a clear path back to higher-level pages, helping users understand their current position and navigate easily through related sections. The term “breadcrumb” originates from the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale, where breadcrumbs were used to mark a trail.

Types of Breadcrumb Navigation

1. Location-Based Breadcrumbs: Represent the site’s hierarchy, showing the relationship between the current page and parent pages.
2. Path-Based Breadcrumbs: Display the sequence of pages a user has visited, offering a history-based navigation trail.
3. Attribute-Based Breadcrumbs: Highlight specific attributes or filters applied on a page, commonly used in eCommerce websites.

Why Is Breadcrumb Navigation Important?
Breadcrumbs enhance user experience by simplifying navigation, especially on complex websites with multiple levels of content. They improve accessibility and reduce bounce rates by allowing users to retrace their steps easily. Additionally, breadcrumbs contribute to SEO by helping search engines understand site structure and hierarchy.

Breadcrumb navigation is an essential tool for improving usability and ensuring visitors can explore websites efficiently without losing context.