Seven reasons to avoid using JavaScript dynamic navigation bars

Source: Internet
Author: User

Over time when bad web design ideas have been dropped or lost favor, including unnecessary splash screens and unwieldy framesets, for the good of the Web user. however, one web design bad habit that persists is the Javascript dynamic navigation. this is bad news for both web users and those looking to commission a web designer to build a site for them. ultimately if your navigation is broken, so is your site.

As time passes, many outdated web design concepts have been abandoned, including useless splash display effects and frameworks. However, one disadvantage of a good web designer is the use of JavaScript dynamic navigation bars. This is not a good sign for all designers. In the end, this will affect the actual effect of the site navigation bar, or even the whole website.

The seven top reasons why you shoshould not use JavaScript dynamic navigation are:

Seven reasons to avoid using JavaScript dynamic navigation Bars:

Site navigation is difficult when navigation is not permanently displayed.
Dynamic navigation bar will cause trouble for navigation of the entire site

Everyone likes to know where they are going and even where they are! A site with a permanently visible navigation structure meets both of these requirements, but popup or dynamic navigation systems do not. remembering that Google and the other search engines are as likely to deliver a visitor to a subpage as they are to your home page, a clear navigation structure is essential. think of it as they "you are here" icon in your local shopping mall's map.

Everyone wants to know exactly where they are and where they can go. The fixed visual navigation bar structure can meet both requirements, but the pop-up form and dynamic navigation system cannot. Remember, when Google and other search engines are likely to bring viewers to a second-level page under the home page, a clear navigation structure is necessary. Think about it. Make an icon similar to a local shopping map, which says, "You're Here ".

Embedded elements can clash with dynamic navigation
The nested element will conflict with the dynamic navigation system.

A typical dynamic navigation structure will result in an overlay or pop up/down display. the challenge here is that if your site is media rich (ie contains Flash animation or embedded video) These embedded elements will take precedence on the page. the end result is that part of your navigation will be hidden behind these elements making site navigation difficult if not impossible.

The typical dynamic navigation structure will overwrite the content of the site or pop-up and indent display. The biggest challenge here is that if your site contains a large amount of multimedia (such as flash animation or built-in video), these built-in elements will be preferentially displayed on the page. The final result is that your navigation bar will be overwritten by these elements, which will be invisible to viewers.

Cross Browser/platform compatibility issues
Interactive Browser/Platform features

As any developer will tell you, since the dawn of the Internet, not all browsers are created equal. some applications will follow a stricter implication of JavaScript than others. the only way to combat this issue is through vigorous testing-something that takes time and money. when you consider how quickly Some browsers release code updates you have to be prepared to be in constant test and verification mode.

As I told you, since the birth of the Internet, all browsers have not been created at the same level. Some applications have better support for JavaScript Functions than other script programs. We can only refute this through various tests-but it takes a lot of time and money. When you consider some browsers trying to release code updates so quickly, you should be ready to stick to long-term testing and code verification.

Usability issues-dynamic navigation is not for everyone
Utility issues -- Dynamic navigation bar does not apply to anyone

Just like menus in Windows or OSX, dynamic navigation structures require good hand/eye co-ordination. not everyone will be as fast or as accurate as you are when it comes to using a mouse and nested dynamic navigation can be special hard to use. usability studies with elderly users or those new to computers and the Internet shows that such nested menus quickly cause frustration and are far from easy to use.

Like menus in Windows or OSX systems, the dynamic navigation structure requires good touch and visual coordination. Not all people use the mouse quickly and accurately, so the dynamic navigation system will bring trouble to them. The network usage utility of New and Old users indicates that nested menus are troublesome and difficult to use.

The experts don't do it
Neither do the experts.

Go and visit your favorite site and then all the big Internet names such as Google, Amazon, YouTube, BBC, MSN, Yahoo !, MySpace, eBay, Wikipedia, Craigslist, IMDB, etc, etc. there is a reason that you don't see these sites using dynamic navigation and that's because there are better ways. any coaching or strategy expert will tell you the secret to success is to model those who are already successful. so if th336e experts don't use dynamic navigation why wowould you?

Let's take a look at all the famous websites, such as Google, Amazon, YouTube, BBC, MSN, and Yahoo! MySpace, eBay, Wikipedia, Craigslist, IMDB, and so on, you will find that they do not use dynamic navigation systems, because there are already better ways to replace them. All training or strategy experts will tell you how to use these successful cases. Therefore, if th336e experts do not use these dynamic navigation systems, what else do you want to use them?

You have plenty of other options
You have more options

One advantage of a dynamic JavaScript navigation structure is that everything is contained in a single script file. changing any aspect of the whole site's navigation can be achieved by modifying this one file. however, this benefit is not unique to JavaScript. an external XML navigation structure or a range of server-side scripting processes can achieve the same effect and all are capable of outputting standard XHTML without any of the drawbacks listed in this article.

One of the advantages of the dynamic JavaScript navigation system structure is that all programs can be written into a simple script file, as long as they are modified, to modify all files. However, JavaScript alone does not have this advantage. All external XML navigation structures achieve the same effect as the server-side scripting program, and there are no restrictions on standard XHTML output.

Your site will be broken if Javascript is turned off!
If you do not want to useJavascript, Your site will have a breakthrough!

With increased security awareness and the constant screen invasion by pop-ups reset users restrict or even turn off JavaScript settings in their browsers. while this activity is designed to stop the Javascript based popups, squeeze pages and floating ads, it will render your site inoperable. statistics show that 10% of the visitors to your site will have javascript disabled. as there are plenty of B Etter alternatives to a dynamic JavaScript navigation structure why even risk alienating 10% of your site visitors?

Considering the increasing security concerns and the intrusion of pop-up windows, many browsers have disabled the Javascript running attribute by default. It is designed to stop JavaScript pop-up pages, page extrusion, and floating ads, because these will make your website messy. Statistics show that 10% of visitors disabled the JavaScript function. In fact, there are still many alternative elements of the Javascript navigation structure, so why do we still have to take the "10%" risk?

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