It is important to include both visual and non-visual orientation cues, page structure, and other navigational aids. Inconsistent, unpredictable, and overly complicated navigation mechanisms and page functions provider a poor user experience for all users.
Many people rely on predictable user interfaces and are disoriented or distracted by inconsistent appearance or behavior. Examples of making content more predictable include:
- Navigation mechanisms that are repeated on multiple pages appear in the same place each time;
- User interface components that are repeated on web pages have the same labels each time;
- Forms should follow a logical flow and provide clear labels.
- If a user takes an action, the connection between the action and the result should be obvious.
- Significant changes on a web page do not happen without the consent of the user
Some users may have memory difficulties that impair their ability to remember how they got to content. Any kind of reminder of the overall context of a web site can help people with memory deficits.
For users leveraging screen magnifiers, websites with horizontal scrollbars are difficult to use.