I've built sites that have the navigation at the top, and I've built them with the navigation on the left-hand side.
I've seen sites with navigation links on both sides, and then of course those interesting javascript menu systems.
From a usability / search engine friendliness point of view, what is the best way to design a site's navigation?
Depends on your taste, i've seen sites with great left / right sided navigation, and some with not so good navigation, same with top, depends on your colors, you're design, and what you want out of your site.
This all depends on if you're talking about semantic design or graphic design.
In terms of search engine friendliness, you just need to mark your navigation up as semantically as possible (aside: roll on Navigation Lists). If you do that, search engines will be fine.
With regards general accessibility, I'd recommend avoiding using JavaScript in such a way that it means text-only browsers (or those who disable JavaScript) can't use your navigation. Also, try to bear in mind Fitt's Law - the time to acquire a target is a function of the distance to and size of the target. In other words, make the "hot area" of navigation links as large as possible (but in such a way that it doesn't seem silly). Dave Shea gives a superb example of Fitt's Law.
It depends on the site, the content (quantity of) and the intended viewer... ... but make sure its not javascript.
js, *scary* i dislike using dhtml too but thats up to you >.>
I just use jpgs / html to make my buttons
js, *scary* i dislike using dhtml too but thats up to you >.>
I just use jpgs / html to make my buttons
Have you used CSS for button roll-overs? It works quite well.
all i can offer to this conversation is that if there was an absolute best, there would only be 1 book on web design and not a million.
Aqua-Soft Forums