Mobile Navigation Patterns

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Mobile Navigation Patterns

Mobile navigation patterns are essential components of mobile app design, dictating how users navigate through the app's interface to access content and features. As mobile devices have limited screen size compared to desktops, designing intuitive and efficient navigation is important for ensuring a positive user experience.

User engagement - Well-designed navigation patterns enhance user engagement by making it easy for users to find what they're looking for quickly. A seamless navigation experience encourages users to explore the app further and increases their likelihood of returning.
Usability - Clear and intuitive navigation patterns improve the usability of the app, reducing user frustration and the likelihood of errors. People should be able to navigate the app effortlessly, regardless of their familiarity with mobile technology.
Consistency - Consistent navigation patterns across different screens and sections of the app contribute to a cohesive user experience. Users should be able to predict how to navigate within the app based on their interactions with previous screens.

Tab bar navigation - Tab bar navigation is a popular pattern characterised by a horizontal bar of tabs located at the bottom of the screen. Each tab represents a different section of the app, allowing users to switch between them with a single tap. Tab bar navigation is ideal for apps with multiple primary sections or features, such as social media apps or e-commerce platforms.

Hamburger menu - The hamburger menu consists of three horizontal lines stacked on top of each other, typically located in the top-left or top-right corner of the screen. When tapped, it reveals a hidden menu containing additional navigation options. The hamburger menu is useful for decluttering the interface and providing access to secondary or less frequently used features.
- The Hamburger menu was introduced in the early 80s by Xerox as part of the graphic user interface of their computer software. When mobile navigation emerged, the hamburger menu was adopted as a typical mobile design menu, this because the screens were and are small and you need one icon to “pack up in” the navigation.
- However, with the massive spread of the internet around the world, between 2000 and 2008, people unaware of usability, typically web designers and graphic designers who were transitioning towards the online “world” began the so-called “slick design” trend.
- In this style, web sites were minimals, fonts were very small and the top menu was turned into a web design. This is nonsense and a flag of lack of knowledge of the designer or in some other case a sign of “I just do not care”.
- User interfaces bend to usability not aesthetics, which instead comes second and the hamburger menu adopted on websites reduces discoverability.
Bottom navigation bar - Similar to tab bar navigation, the bottom navigation bar is a horizontal bar of icons located at the bottom of the screen. However, instead of using text labels, it relies solely on icons to represent different sections of the app. Bottom navigation bars are space-efficient and provide quick access to primary app features.

Drawer navigation - Drawer navigation, also known as side navigation or slide-out menu, involves swiping or tapping to reveal a hidden panel containing navigation options. This pattern is versatile and can accommodate a large number of navigation items, making it suitable for complex apps with extensive navigation hierarchies.

https://cdn.dribbble.com/users/463787/screenshots/2139038/animation.gif

To keep in mind:

In general, the further nested the navigation is, the harder the discoverability gets. This is commonly observed when seeing traffic through apps - the most exposed part of the navigation gets the most visits & sessions.
Try to optimize your UI for fewer top-level navigation. The industry standard for the Bottom nav bar is 4 or 5 items at most. Try to define what‘s most important to the specific kind of user to narrow it down to the 4. Some apps allow customization of this in the settings (See Todoist as an example).
Wechat is a great example of an app that probably has the most number of things a user can do in a single application. With one of the largest user bases in Asia, its interface is simple enough to focus on its core value proposition—communication.
Seeing more navigation elements is usually observed to create a feeling of being overwhelmed by the information presented on the screen. Instead, direct navigation contextually and progressively. Using a combination of both is necessary to develop an experience your customers love and drives business metrics.

Consider user needs - Start by understanding the needs and preferences of your target audience. Consider factors such as the complexity of the app, the frequency of use, and the typical tasks users will perform.
Evaluate content hierarchy—analyze the content hierarchy within the app and determine the most logical way to organize and present it to users. Choose a navigation pattern that aligns with the content structure and facilitates easy access to key features.
Test and iterate - Conduct usability testing to evaluate the effectiveness of the chosen navigation pattern. Gather feedback from users and iterate on the design to address any usability issues or concerns.

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PreviousSitemap NextMobile Design Patterns

Last updated 4 months ago

Was this helpful?

User engagement - Well-designed navigation patterns enhance user engagement by making it easy for users to find what they're looking for quickly. A seamless navigation experience encourages users to explore the app further and increases their likelihood of returning.
Usability - Clear and intuitive navigation patterns improve the usability of the app, reducing user frustration and the likelihood of errors. People should be able to navigate the app effortlessly, regardless of their familiarity with mobile technology.
Consistency - Consistent navigation patterns across different screens and sections of the app contribute to a cohesive user experience. Users should be able to predict how to navigate within the app based on their interactions with previous screens.

Tab bar navigation - Tab bar navigation is a popular pattern characterised by a horizontal bar of tabs located at the bottom of the screen. Each tab represents a different section of the app, allowing users to switch between them with a single tap. Tab bar navigation is ideal for apps with multiple primary sections or features, such as social media apps or e-commerce platforms.

Hamburger menu - The hamburger menu consists of three horizontal lines stacked on top of each other, typically located in the top-left or top-right corner of the screen. When tapped, it reveals a hidden menu containing additional navigation options. The hamburger menu is useful for decluttering the interface and providing access to secondary or less frequently used features.
- The Hamburger menu was introduced in the early 80s by Xerox as part of the graphic user interface of their computer software. When mobile navigation emerged, the hamburger menu was adopted as a typical mobile design menu, this because the screens were and are small and you need one icon to “pack up in” the navigation.
- However, with the massive spread of the internet around the world, between 2000 and 2008, people unaware of usability, typically web designers and graphic designers who were transitioning towards the online “world” began the so-called “slick design” trend.
- In this style, web sites were minimals, fonts were very small and the top menu was turned into a web design. This is nonsense and a flag of lack of knowledge of the designer or in some other case a sign of “I just do not care”.
- User interfaces bend to usability not aesthetics, which instead comes second and the hamburger menu adopted on websites reduces discoverability.
Bottom navigation bar - Similar to tab bar navigation, the bottom navigation bar is a horizontal bar of icons located at the bottom of the screen. However, instead of using text labels, it relies solely on icons to represent different sections of the app. Bottom navigation bars are space-efficient and provide quick access to primary app features.

Drawer navigation - Drawer navigation, also known as side navigation or slide-out menu, involves swiping or tapping to reveal a hidden panel containing navigation options. This pattern is versatile and can accommodate a large number of navigation items, making it suitable for complex apps with extensive navigation hierarchies.

https://cdn.dribbble.com/users/463787/screenshots/2139038/animation.gif

To keep in mind:

In general, the further nested the navigation is, the harder the discoverability gets. This is commonly observed when seeing traffic through apps - the most exposed part of the navigation gets the most visits & sessions.
Try to optimize your UI for fewer top-level navigation. The industry standard for the Bottom nav bar is 4 or 5 items at most. Try to define what‘s most important to the specific kind of user to narrow it down to the 4. Some apps allow customization of this in the settings (See Todoist as an example).
Wechat is a great example of an app that probably has the most number of things a user can do in a single application. With one of the largest user bases in Asia, its interface is simple enough to focus on its core value proposition—communication.
Seeing more navigation elements is usually observed to create a feeling of being overwhelmed by the information presented on the screen. Instead, direct navigation contextually and progressively. Using a combination of both is necessary to develop an experience your customers love and drives business metrics.

Consider user needs - Start by understanding the needs and preferences of your target audience. Consider factors such as the complexity of the app, the frequency of use, and the typical tasks users will perform.
Evaluate content hierarchy—analyze the content hierarchy within the app and determine the most logical way to organize and present it to users. Choose a navigation pattern that aligns with the content structure and facilitates easy access to key features.
Test and iterate - Conduct usability testing to evaluate the effectiveness of the chosen navigation pattern. Gather feedback from users and iterate on the design to address any usability issues or concerns.