Navigation System

A navigation system is a mechanism that allows locating a page within a website: navigation menu, site map, or search engine. RGAA and WCAG require at least two of these systems on each set of web pages, to accommodate different information-seeking strategies.

Your site has a menu. That's a good start, but it's not enough. RGAA criterion 12.1 and WCAG criterion 2.4.5 (Level AA) require at least two distinct navigation systems on each set of web pages.

#Three systems, two required

RGAA recognizes three navigation systems:

  • Navigation menu: the main menu, present on all pages
  • Site map: a page that lists all pages on the site
  • Search engine: a search field that covers all content

You must provide at least two. The most common combination: main menu and site map, with a link to the latter in the footer.

Navigation strategies vary by user. Some easily navigate a hierarchical menu. Others, particularly people with cognitive disabilities, prefer typing a keyword into a search field. A single system forces everyone down the same path.

That's the classic trap. Breadcrumbs help the user understand where they are in the site hierarchy, but they don't allow you to locate a page you haven't found yet. The RGAA designer guide classifies it as a complement, not as a navigation system in its own right.

A menu and breadcrumbs is one system. Not two.

#Common mistakes

Forgotten site map is the most common case. It exists at launch, nobody updates it, and six months later half the pages are missing. An incomplete site map doesn't fulfill its purpose.

Another problem: a search engine that only indexes part of the content. If your search returns results only for blog articles but ignores service pages, it doesn't cover the entire site.

Exception to remember: pages that are part of a process (checkout flow, multi-step form) are exempt from this requirement. The user follows a linear path by design.

#In summary

Provide at minimum a navigation menu and a site map (or a search engine). Breadcrumbs are a bonus, not a substitute. Verify that each system adequately covers the entire site.

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Navigation

In web accessibility, navigation groups all the mechanisms that allow users to move through a site: main menu, search engine, site map, breadcrumb trail. WCAG requires at least two of these systems on each set of pages, to cover the different ways users browse a site.

Site Map

A site map is an HTML page that lists all the links on a website, organized by sections. It provides an overview of the site structure and serves as an alternative navigation method. Users who struggle to navigate through traditional menus find direct access to each page.

Set of Web Pages

A set of web pages refers to a group of web pages that share a common objective and are produced by the same team. This concept, drawn from the WCAG glossary, defines the scope within which consistency rules in accessibility apply: same navigation, same labels, same help location.