What is Breadcrumb? How is it applied?

There are many tools and methods used to improve the user experience and navigation of websites. One of these tools is breadcrumb navigation. Breadcrumbs help users understand where they are within a website and how they can navigate to other pages. In this article, we will examine what breadcrumbs are, how they are implemented, and the advantages they provide.

What Is a Breadcrumb?

A breadcrumb is a navigation element on websites that shows the user’s current page location and the higher-level categories of that page. It gets its name from the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale, where the children left a trail of breadcrumbs to find their way back. Breadcrumbs are typically placed at the top of the page in a horizontal format and make it easier for users to navigate back within the site.

Types of Breadcrumbs

Hierarchical Breadcrumb

A hierarchical breadcrumb displays the structure of the current page within the site’s hierarchy. This type of breadcrumb shows users which category they are in and how to navigate back to higher-level categories.

Example: Home > Category > Subcategory > Current Page

Attribute-Based Breadcrumb

An attribute-based breadcrumb is generated based on the attributes or filters a user selects for a specific product or page. This type is commonly used in e-commerce websites.

Example: Home > Men’s Clothing > Shoes > Sneakers

History-Based Breadcrumb

A history-based breadcrumb records the user’s navigation path through the website. It helps users return to previously visited pages with ease.

Example: Home > About Us > Services > Contact

Advantages of Breadcrumbs

User Experience

Breadcrumbs enhance user experience by helping users understand their current location within the site and how to return to higher-level pages. They enable users to navigate the site without getting lost.

SEO Benefits

Breadcrumbs can help search engines better understand the structure of your website. This can improve your site’s SEO performance and help achieve higher rankings in search engine results.

Ease of Site Navigation

Breadcrumbs simplify site navigation, allowing users to quickly return to top-level pages or categories. This encourages users to spend more time on the site and view more pages.

How to Implement Breadcrumbs?

Creating Breadcrumbs with HTML

Creating breadcrumbs using HTML is quite simple. Below is a basic example of an HTML breadcrumb:

<nav aria-label=”Breadcrumb”>
<ol>
<li><a href=”/”>Home</a></li>
<li><a href=”/category”>Category</a></li>
<li><a href=”/category/subcategory”>Subcategory</a></li>
<li>Current Page</li>
</ol>
</nav>

Styling Breadcrumbs with CSS

You can use CSS to enhance the visual appearance of breadcrumbs created with HTML. Below is a simple example of a CSS breadcrumb style:

.breadcrumb {

list-style: none;

display: flex;

padding: 0;

}

.breadcrumb-item {

margin-right: 0.5em;

}

.breadcrumb-item a {

text-decoration: none;

color: #007bff;

}

.breadcrumb-item.active {

color: #6c757d;

}

Dynamic Breadcrumb with JavaScript

Below is a simple example that creates a dynamic breadcrumb based on the page URL using JavaScript. This is especially useful when each page doesn’t have a manually defined breadcrumb.

function createBreadcrumb() {

var breadcrumb = document.querySelector(‘.breadcrumb’);

var path = window.location.pathname.split(‘/’).filter(function (el) { return el.length != 0; });

var fullPath = ”;

path.forEach(function (segment, index) {

fullPath += ‘/’ + segment;

var li = document.createElement(‘li’);

li.className = ‘breadcrumb-item’;

if (index === path.length – 1) {

li.classList.add(‘active’);

li.setAttribute(‘aria-current’, ‘page’);

li.textContent = segment;

} else {

var a = document.createElement(‘a’);

a.href = fullPath;

a.textContent = segment;

li.appendChild(a);

}

breadcrumb.appendChild(li);

});

}

document.addEventListener(‘DOMContentLoaded’, createBreadcrumb);

Breadcrumb Usage in CMS Systems

Popular CMS systems offer plugins and tools that facilitate the use of breadcrumbs. For example, the “Yoast SEO” plugin for WordPress makes adding breadcrumbs quite simple.

Things to Consider When Using Breadcrumbs

Keeping It Clear and Short

Keeping the breadcrumb clear and short improves user experience. Complex and long breadcrumbs can mislead users.

Adding a Home Page Link

Adding a home page link at the beginning of the breadcrumb allows users to easily return to the home page.

Using Appropriate Separators

Separators (for example, “>”, “/”, “|”) are used to separate the items used in the breadcrumb. Appropriate separators should be chosen so that users can easily read the breadcrumb.

Mobile Compatible Design

Make sure the breadcrumb works well on mobile devices. Responsive design and mobile-compatible CSS ensure that the breadcrumb looks proper on every device.

Breadcrumb and SEO

Structured Data and Schema Markup

You can use schema markup to better introduce breadcrumbs to search engines. Below is an example of schema markup for breadcrumbs:

</li>

<a href=”category.html” itemprop=”item”><span itemprop=”name”>Category</span></a>

</li>

<span itemprop=”name”>Current Page</span>

</li>

</ol>

</nav>

Breadcrumb Appearance in Search Engine Results

Breadcrumbs can also appear on search engine results pages (SERPs) and help users better understand the structure of your site. This can increase click-through rates and improve your site’s visibility in search engines.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a breadcrumb?

A breadcrumb is a navigation element on websites that shows the user’s current page location and the higher-level categories of that page.

What are the types of breadcrumbs?

Breadcrumb types include hierarchical breadcrumbs, attribute-based breadcrumbs, and history-based breadcrumbs.

How is a breadcrumb implemented?

Breadcrumbs can be implemented using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Additionally, they can be easily integrated using plugins and tools in popular CMS systems.

What are the advantages of using breadcrumbs?

The advantages of using breadcrumbs include improving user experience, SEO benefits, and easing site navigation.

What is the relationship between breadcrumbs and SEO?

Breadcrumbs help search engines better understand the structure of your site. You can increase the SEO contribution of breadcrumbs by using structured data and schema markup.

What should be considered in breadcrumb design?

Breadcrumb design should pay attention to clarity and brevity, including a homepage link, using appropriate separators, and ensuring a mobile-friendly design.