A breadcrumb is a simple navigation aid that tells users where they are on a site and how to get back to previous pages. It's a visual trail, usually on top of a webpage, which shows the page hierarchy. For instance, Home > Blog > Web Design Tips.

A breadcrumb trail allows you to navigate through various divisions of a site easily without using the back button over and over. They enhance the user experience by providing instant links to parent pages, making it easy for a website visitor to navigate and remain oriented.

How breadcrumb navigation works

Bread crumbs show a clickable sequence of links, from the homepage and progressing through sections or categories to the current web page. They assist visitors in navigating without the need to reload the same page repeatedly. This is what constitutes a standard breadcrumb:

• Website hierarchy: Pages are ordered from broad (like the homepage) to specific (like a blog post).
• Separator: Symbols like ">" or "/" visually separate the links.
• Clickable links: Each part of the breadcrumb (except the current page) is usually a link.

Example: Home > Services > Web Design > Responsive Design. Each division is a link, and it's simple to "jump" back to more general topics without losing your position.

Types of breadcrumbs

The common types of breadcrumbs are:

• Location-based breadcrumb navigation: Indicates where a page is in the site's structure (e.g., Home > Products > Shoes > Running Shoes).
• Attribute-based: Employed on online shopping sites to indicate chosen filters or categories (e.g., Home > Men's Clothing > Color: Blue > Size: Medium).
• History-based: Reveals the user's path of navigation, like a trail of the pages they've been to.

Why breadcrumbs matter

Breadcrumbs may appear as a minor feature. But using breadcrumb trails provides huge advantages:

• Improved user experience: A site visitor can effortlessly navigate backward or jump to connected sections without annoyance.
• SEO boost: Breadcrumbs enable search engines such as Google search to comprehend your site structure, potentially enhancing how your pages are indexed and presented in Google search results.
• Fewer bounce rates: By making navigation easy, breadcrumbs retain visitors' interest and entice them to see more of your material.

How to add breadcrumbs to a website

If you’re building or redesigning a website, adding breadcrumbs is pretty straightforward. Here’s how to do it:

1. Choose the right type. Decide whether you’ll use location-based, attribute-based, or history-based breadcrumbs.
2. Use clear labels. Make sure each breadcrumb link uses short, descriptive text so users know where each link goes.
3. Add the appropriate HTML and CSS. Most website builders provide breadcrumb support, but you can also implement them manually for more flexibility.
4. Structure with schema markup. For search engines to notice your breadcrumbs, use BreadcrumbList schema markup to make your search result listing better.

FAQs about breadcrumb navigation

Why are breadcrumbs important for web design?

Breadcrumbs improve site navigation, helping users move around your site without getting lost. They also offer SEO advantages by showing search engines your site’s structure.

What’s the difference between breadcrumbs and a site menu?

A primary navigation menu shows all major sections of a website, while breadcrumbs show the specific path to the page you’re currently viewing. Both improve navigation but serve different purposes.

Do all websites need breadcrumbs?

Not always. Breadcrumbs are most beneficial on large sites with many categories and subpages, such as blogs, shopping sites, or knowledge bases.

Can breadcrumbs improve SEO?

Yes. Breadcrumbs help search engines learn the structure of how pages are related and connected, which can improve indexing and search result snippets.

How do you style breadcrumbs?

Most breadcrumbs employ plain text links divided by symbols such as ">" or "/". You can make them look any way you want using CSS to blend with your site's theme.

Create a site with clear navigation using B12

Your site’s navigation is user-friendly and intuitive from day one with B12’s AI-powered website builder. Whether you’re adding breadcrumbs, menus, or other features, B12 makes it easy to build a seamless user experience. Get started with building your site today!