8. Navigation

8.1 Identify the target of each link

Clearly identify the target of each link. It must be clear to the user where that link will take them. Everything that is a link is obvious as a link.

Guide to this standard

This standard is based on the Irish National Disability Authority guidelines. Ensure that the following characteristics of navigation mechanisms are more or less uniform throughout a site, or a series of related sites creates consistency:

• Visual presentation - navigation elements look similar from page to page
• Order - navigation elements are presented in a consistent sequence
• Language - terminology is consistent
• Behaviour - links and navigation controls always do the same thing when activated
• It is generally recommended against having images as links. However, this can in certain cases assist with accessibility. If this is to be done, then the image must be made “obvious as a link” and an associated equivalent text-based navigation must also be provided.

This standard covers the W3C WAI checkpoint 13.1 (http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10-TECHS/#tech-meaningful-links) for NZ government agencies.

Rationale for this standard

Consistency in a web site is a key factor for usability and accessibility, and helps to create a good user experience. Consistency in navigation within the site is a key factor in the overall consistency of a web site. Having inconsistent navigation mechanisms, and navigation that does not make it clear where the user is being led, will disorient users and lead to mistakes, confusion, frustration or more simply, a poor overall user experience. Users are unlikely to willingly return to a site where they have had a previous poor user experience.

For the agency, maintenance of the site is made more difficult, which exacerbates the further degradation of usability and accessibility.

8.2 External and internal links are valid

Guide to this standard

External and internal links should be checked regularly, or incorporate an automatic checking process to ensure that the links are valid. Broken or ‘moved’ links should be corrected, removed or the linking text updated accordingly.

Invalid links can be:

• a non-existent site/page
• a valid page, but not that intended by the link

Rationale for this standard

The usefulness of a site diminishes if an external link references an invalid or non-existent link. It also hinders the quality of the site from a user perspective.

8.3 Compulsory links on every web page

As a minimum, every web page under ownership of the agency must have the following links:

• 1. To a homepage. This is irrespective of whether the user is currently on a homepage. If using an agency logo on a web page, it links to the homepage. Alt text of "Go to home page - Agency Name" is included in the link and/or logo.
• 2. To “About this Site”, as defined in standard 16.3. The name of the link is “About this site”.

Note: ‘Homepage’ is defined in the Glossary of Key Concepts.

Guide to this standard

This is irrespective of whether the user is currently on a homepage.

Always make the logo a link, even if activating the link will only refresh the current page.

Related Standard

16.1 - Links to the homepage of the “Main” agency web site.

Rationale for this standard

Assists usability and accessibility of a web site. At any point in the web site, a user should be able to return to the homepage with minimal effort.

8.4 Navigation Access keys

Guide to this standard

Navigation Access keys are used within the site as follows:

Access key 0 is provided for List of Access Keys.

Access key 1 is provided for Home.

Access key 2 is provided for Site Map.

Access key 3 is provided for Search.

Access key 9 is provided for Contact Us.

Access key [ is provided for beginning of main content. This is known as a Skip Link.

Access key / is provided for re-directing to the all-of-government portal (refer to http://www.govt.nz/linking for details)

Related Standards

15.3 - Providing keyboard shortcuts.

15.4 - Skipping over long lists of unwanted links.

Rationale for this standard

Assists and reinforces the standard 15.3 regarding the keyboard shortcuts required for NZ government agency web sites. In addition, it establishes conformity of access keys across all NZ Government agency sites. This assists users with familiarity of web site functionality within the NZ e-Government space as a whole.