Breadcrumb navigation (or breadcrumbs) are the forgotten hero of web design. You've seen them everywhere — from e-commerce websites like Nike to renowned magazines such as Forbes, and startup websites like Linear. Despite their small size, they are vital for SEO and user experience.
In this blog post, we'll explore what breadcrumbs are, how to implement them effectively on your website, what they do for SEO, design best practices, and examine real-world examples of well-designed breadcrumbs.
What Are Breadcrumbs?
Breadcrumbs are a secondary navigation scheme that shows the trail of the pages on a website and your location within them. They serve three primary purposes:
- Helping users navigate the website in a better manner
- Assisting search engines in understanding the site's content structure
- Lowering the bounce rate on your website
When Should You Use Breadcrumbs?
Breadcrumbs are most effective when used on websites that:
- Have a clear hierarchical structure (e.g., Home > Services > Design > Branding)
- Contain a large number of pages
- Benefit from additional navigation support
Note: Breadcrumbs should complement, not replace, the main navigation bar.
Types of Breadcrumbs
There are three main types of breadcrumbs, each serving a different purpose:
1. Hierarchy-Based Breadcrumbs
These are the most common type of breadcrumbs. They show the site's structure and the user's current location within that hierarchy.
Example: Home > Electronics > Computers > Laptops
2. Attribute-Based Breadcrumbs
Often used on e-commerce sites, these breadcrumbs display attributes of a product rather than its location in the site hierarchy.
Example: Home > Shoes > Running > Men's > Size 10
3. History-Based Breadcrumbs
These show the user's unique path through the website, similar to a "Back" button functionality.
Example: Home > Search Results > Product Category > Current Page
Choosing the right type of breadcrumb depends on your website's structure and the user's needs. Hierarchy-based breadcrumbs are the most versatile and widely applicable, while attribute-based breadcrumbs excel in e-commerce settings. History-based breadcrumbs can be useful but may confuse users if they expect a hierarchical structure.
Benefits of Breadcrumbs
1. Reduces Bounce Rate
In today's fast-paced digital world, users' patience is at a premium. If visitors can't quickly find what they're looking for or become disoriented on a website, they're more likely to abandon it entirely.
Breadcrumbs encourage users to explore rather than leave the site when lost. They are particularly useful for complex site hierarchies with multiple categories and sections.
2. Improves Search-ability
Have you ever found yourself lost on a website, unable to navigate back to the page you actually want to see? It's a common frustration. That's where breadcrumbs come in handy – they significantly improve search-ability, making it easier to orient yourself and navigate through a site's structure.
Breadcrumb navigation naturally enhances the user experience by making information more accessible and allowing for seamless movement between pages.
3. Lowers Anxiety
Now, imagine you're making a significant purchase. You want to ensure you're following the correct steps and staying on the right track, but there's no clear path to guide you — frustrating, right? This is where breadcrumbs come in. They provide a sense of direction, help you navigate confidently, and reassure you that you're making progress along the way.
How to Use Breadcrumbs to Improve SEO?
Breadcrumbs don’t just improve the user experience, they can also boost your website’s search engine optimization (SEO). You’ve probably seen breadcrumbs displayed in search results, as Google loves organized site structures. Here's how you can optimize breadcrumbs for SEO:
1. Add Structured Data
Structured data is a standardized format that helps search engines understand and classify your content. When you add structured data to markup, it makes it easier for Google to index and display them in search results.
Here is an example of what structured data looks like for Navbar Gallery:
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "BreadcrumbList",
"itemListElement": [
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 1,
"name": "Home",
"item": "https://www.navbar.gallery"
},
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 2,
"name": "Style",
"item": "https://www.navbar.gallery/style"
},
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 3,
"name": "Art",
"item": "https://www.navbar.gallery/style/art"
}
]
}
2. Follow Google’s Guidelines
Adhere to Google’s structured data guidelines to ensure your breadcrumbs are recognized properly. This includes using the right properties and ensuring your breadcrumbs are visible to search engine crawlers.
3. Test and Validate
Use Google’s Rich Results Test tool to validate your breadcrumb code. Once everything looks good, deploy your updates across a few pages and use the URL Inspection tool to check how Google sees and processes your breadcrumbs.
Designing the Perfect Breadcrumbs Navigation
Breadcrumbs are traditionally small, unobtrusive elements, but their design can have a significant impact on usability. Here are some tips to help you design breadcrumbs that are both elegant and functional:
1. Use Simple Elements
Common dividers between breadcrumb links include the “>” symbol or “/”, as users are already familiar with these conventions. These symbols keep the breadcrumb trail clean, intuitive, and easy to follow, enhancing the overall navigation experience.
2. Highlight the Active State
The current page in the breadcrumb trail should be visually distinct. Use a slight color change or bold text to highlight the active breadcrumb, showing to users where they are.
3. Experiment with Creative Elements
.avif)
While traditional breadcrumbs work well, you can also explore more creative designs. Some websites use arrows or tab-like designs to represent steps in a process. Others use numbers to indicate progress through multi-step workflows. These can be especially effective on forms or account creation processes, where showing progress helps reduce user drop-off.
Top 5 Examples of Well-Designed Breadcrumbs
1. Clerk
Clerk.com offers a stunning example of a breadcrumb trail that incorporates dropdown selections, icons, and avatars, all presented in a visually appealing and cohesive design. This innovative approach enhances both navigation and user experience.
2. Stripe
Stripe features a clean yet elegant breadcrumb design, which it uses across all third-level pages like Customers, Blogs, and Guides. This is a perfect example of a hierarchy-based breadcrumb trail, providing users with clear navigation through the site’s structure.
3. Notion
Notion integrates breadcrumbs seamlessly and consistently across both its website and app. In this example, they enhance the breadcrumb trail with beautifully designed icons, making the navigation not only intuitive but visually appealing as well.
Where to Find More Beautiful Breadcrumb Examples
Breadcrumbs, though simple and small, are a powerful element in web design. If you're looking for more examples of well-designed breadcrumb trails on real-world websites and apps, visit our Breadcrumbs Design Inspiration page. It’s a curated collection showcasing top breadcrumb designs for your inspiration.
Conclusion
Breadcrumb navigation, though often overlooked, is a powerful tool for improving user experience and SEO. By implementing breadcrumbs effectively, you can enhance your website's usability, reduce user frustration, and potentially improve your search engine rankings. Remember to choose the appropriate type of breadcrumb for your site's structure and always prioritize user experience in your design decisions.
