WAP Web Design tip: Tips on anchor Link

Web page Production WEBJX article introduction: Discussion on the anchor link in WAP Web page design.

Recently did a WAP station in the Search results page revision, record about the anchor point link Experience ~

About Anchor Point links

Anchor links are typically used for longer pages, and internal links are used to create pages within the page. Click the table of contents to jump to the corresponding position of the text, the most common such as "back to the top, jump between modules" and so on.

About anchor Link, usability research guru Jakob Nielsen has written an article called Avoid within-page links, rejecting anchor links, saying that it is harmful to the health of the page, the most typical example is "back to the top", the reasons for objections can be summarized as follows:

• Interfere with user browsing page;

• Think that there is no need for the browser or keyboard sufficient to complete this function;

• Operating results are not clear, users of the "top" cognitive is not fixed;

For mobile phone WAP pages, because many mobile phones do not support scripting, so many times can only be expected to send the user's browser has a quick jump function. And for the key machine, focus jump will be very painful. Now a lot of WAP has tried to use anchor link, such as some information Web sites, this kind of site information is very large, the page is very long, the need for anchor link is profoundly reflected.



Fig. 1 Two application forms of Anchor point link

At present, the application of Anchor link is mainly divided into two kinds (see Figure 1):

• Fast jump between modules

• Jump to the top

Advantages : • The page is too long, this quick jump can reduce the key work

disadvantage : • The target location is not communicated clearly, the user can not expect the focus position after the jump;

• Limited by the size of the mobile phone screen, users can not understand the overall situation, jump will lose the sense of direction;

Similarly, for the search results page, because the user presented a number of results list, the page will be very long, so the appropriate use of Anchor link will reduce the user's operating burden.

Application of Anchor link in search results page

In general, the location of the Ribbon in the search results page has two scenarios: at the top of the search results list and at the bottom of the search results list, the following analyses the pros and cons of the two situations.

1 ribbon at top of search results list

Figure 2 The focus toggle order at the top of the Ribbon

Advantages: It is beneficial to repeat screening. If the user wants to choose "West L. District" or "Hangzhou Area Mall", first select one of the conditions, page refresh, at the top of the page and then choose another condition, will be easy to operate (Figure 2).

disadvantage: Each time the page is refreshed, the focus stops at the first link in the page. Users want to reach the search list, a long way to go (see Figure 2). At this point can only hope that the phone itself to the link focus of the order of execution, the result is very uncontrollable (many mobile phones do not support fast jump, in addition, not all users of this feature are very understanding).

2 ribbon at the bottom of the search results list

Advantages: After refreshing the page, the user at the top of the page can reach the result list directly;

disadvantage: The cost of repeating a filter can become very high. After refreshing the page, the user must bypass the result list and reach the bottom of the page to complete these filtering actions (Figure 3).

Figure 3 The focus toggle order at the bottom of the Ribbon

How to balance features and results on SERP pages

The purpose of this revision:

The Serp page balances the list result with the priority of the filter area (the former is higher than the latter for us to find the merchant);
• Minimize page refresh times, so do not use a link to a new page of the way;

The final optimization method is (Figure 4):

• Add an anchor point above the search results page list, and link to the filter ribbon when the user needs to filter again.
• When users do not need to, directly ignore this focus, to reach the results list.
• To enhance the user's sense of direction after the jump, the anchor point at the entrance of the visual form of the design of the same as the screening function area.

Figure 4 Search results page anchor link Focus Toggle Order

Summarize

In WAP web design, due to browser or hardware constraints, the use of Anchor link is necessary, but also pay attention to the following points:

• Balance search results and the importance of the functional area to the user, releasing the anchor link in the appropriate location

• Understand the user's actual intent when using the anchor link and communicate it with a clear copy of the text

• To enhance the sense of direction after the jump, can unify the location of the anchor point and the visual representation of the target position