Website Breadcrumbs: The Forgotten Navigation Element

In the world of web design, there are a lot of different elements that go into creating a successful website. One of the most important elements is navigation. Navigation helps users move around a website and find the information they are looking for. One type of navigation that is often overlooked is website breadcrumbs.

Website breadcrumbs are a type of navigation that shows the user where they are on a website. They are usually displayed as a series of links at the top or bottom of a page. Breadcrumbs are a valuable navigation tool for both users and search engines. They help users understand where they are on a website and how to get back to the homepage. They also help search engines index pages on a website.

If you are not using breadcrumbs on your website, you are missing out on a valuable tool. breadcrumbs can help improve the user experience on your website and help you rank higher in search engines.

Why Use Website Breadcrumbs?

The humble website breadcrumb is often overlooked as a navigation element, but it can be a very useful tool for both users and search engines.

Breadcrumbs are usually text links that show the path that the user has taken to get to the current page. For example, if you were on a product page, the breadcrumb might look something like this:

Home > Products > Category > Product

This can be a very helpful way of orienting the user and helping them understand where they are on the site. It can also be helpful for search engines, as it gives them another way to index the content on your site.

So, if you’re not using breadcrumbs on your website, you may want to consider doing so. They’re easy to implement and can provide a real boost to the usability and SEO of your site.

Why are Website Breadcrumbs Important?

While breadcrumbs might not be the most glamorous element on a website, they serve an important purpose in helping visitors navigate. By providing a trail of links back to the homepage or other key pages, breadcrumbs help users orient themselves and find their way around. They can also be a handy way to include keywords for SEO purposes.

In short, website breadcrumbs are important because they help visitors navigate, they help with SEO, and they don’t take away from the aesthetic of your site.

How to Style Breadcrumbs in WordPress?

Most WordPress themes don’t give much thought to breadcrumbs, which is a shame because they can be a really useful navigation element for both users and search engines. In this post, we’ll show you how to style breadcrumbs in WordPress so they look great on your site.

Breadcrumbs are a type of secondary navigation that can help users understand their location within a website and navigate to other pages. They typically look something like this:

Home > Category > Page

For example, if you’re on a page about the best WordPress plugins, the breadcrumb would look like this:

Home > Resources > WordPress Plugins > Best WordPress Plugins

Breadcrumbs are especially useful on large sites with a lot of content. They help users quickly understand where they are on the site and provide a way to navigate up to higher-level pages.

Search engines also use breadcrumbs to understand the structure of a website and give users more information about a site in the search results.

If you want to add breadcrumbs to your WordPress site, you can do so using a plugin or by adding some code to your theme.

Breadcrumbs for Custom Post Types

Breadcrumbs are especially important for custom post types. While a traditional blog post will typically have a single parent (the blog itself), a custom post type can have any number of parents. This can make navigation difficult for users, so breadcrumbs can be a lifesaver.

If you’re not using breadcrumbs on your custom post types, you’re missing out on a valuable tool for improving the user experience.

Breadcrumb Plugins for WordPress

If you’re looking to add breadcrumbs to your WordPress site, there are a number of breadcrumb plugins available for WordPress, which make it easy to add breadcrumbs to your site. Each plugin has its own set of features, so be sure to compare them before deciding on which one is right for you.

Breadcrumbs can be a great way to improve the usability of your site, so don’t hesitate to give them a try!

Types of Breadcrumb Trails

The breadcrumb trails on a website can be classified into three main types.

1. Location-based breadcrumbs: These show the hierarchy of pages on your site, starting with the home page. For example, if you’re on a product page, the breadcrumb trail might show “Home > Products > Product A”.
2. History-based breadcrumbs: These show the path that the user has taken to get to the current page. For example, if a user starts on the home page, then goes to the product page, and then to the product detail page, the breadcrumb trail would show “Home > Products > Product A”.
3. Attribute-based breadcrumbs: These show the different attributes of the current page. For example, if you’re on a product detail page, the breadcrumb trail might show “Product A > Details > Description”.

Breadcrumb trails are a great way to help users navigate your website, and they should be used judiciously to improve the user experience.

How to Change the Breadcrumb Separator in WordPress?

WordPress breadcrumbs are simple to style. By default, they use a “/” character as the separator between each breadcrumb, but this can be changed easily by following the steps below.

1. Login to your WordPress Dashboard
2. Go to the Appearance > Menus page
3. Click on the “Screen Options” tab at the top-right of the page
4. Check the box next to “Breadcrumb NavXT”
5. Click on the “Save Changes” button
6. Now click on the “Breadcrumb NavXT” link in the left-hand sidebar
7. In the “Breadcrumb Separator” field, enter the character you want to use as the separator
8. Click on the “Save Changes” button again

That’s all there is to it! You should now see the new character you selected being used as the separator in all of your website breadcrumbs.

How to Choose the Right Breadcrumb Trail for Your Website?

Choosing the right breadcrumb trail for your website might seem tricky at first, but with these tips, you’ll have it down in no time! Here are some helpful tips to consider when choosing breadcrumbs for your website:

1. Consider your website’s hierarchy. When deciding on your breadcrumb trail, first think about your website’s hierarchy. What are the main sections of your website? What order do you want to list them in? Your breadcrumb trail should reflect the hierarchy of your website.
2. Use descriptive labels. Your breadcrumb labels should be descriptive and easy to understand. Avoid using single letters or generic labels like “Home” or “Products.”
3. Use consistent formatting. Once you’ve decided on your breadcrumb trail, be sure to format it consistently throughout your website. This will help users recognize and follow your breadcrumbs more easily.
4. Test your breadcrumbs. Be sure to test your breadcrumbs before publishing your website. Click through your website and test each breadcrumb to make sure it takes you to the correct page.

Wrapping Up

Wrapping up, website breadcrumbs are a great way to improve the navigation of your website. By providing a trail of links back to the homepage, they help users quickly and easily find their way around. Plus, they’re a great way to help search engines understand the structure of your site.

So if you’re not already using breadcrumbs, now is the time to start!