---
name: wayfinding-navigation
description: "Design navigation and information architecture for cognitive accessibility. Use when designing or reviewing navigation, site maps, page hierarchies, breadcrumbs, search, multi-step flows, or any structure where users need to find content and know where they are. Triggers on: users get lost, navigation, wayfinding, information architecture, breadcrumbs, findability, site map, confusing structure, where am I."
---

# Wayfinding and Navigation

Design navigation so that people with cognitive and memory difficulties
can find content, understand where they are, and get back to where they
were — without relying on memory.

## Core Principle

Users should always be able to answer three questions instantly:
1. **Where am I?**
2. **Where can I go?**
3. **How do I get back?**

If any answer requires more than 1 second of thought, the navigation
has failed.

## Design Patterns

### Signpost Pattern
- Breadcrumbs in hierarchies deeper than 2 levels
- Step indicators in multi-step flows ("Step 2 of 4")
- Active section highlighted in navigation
- Page titles that match the link that brought the user here

### Minimal Path Pattern
- Important actions reachable in 1–2 clicks from any screen
- Breadth over depth — flatten deep hierarchies
- Shortcuts to frequently used content
- "Back to [last meaningful location]" always available

### Multiple Routes Pattern
- Search AND browse AND shortcuts for all important content
- Don't force a single path to any destination
- "Jump to" links for long pages
- Recently visited and frequently used sections accessible

### Chunking Pattern
- Break long content into headed sections (3–5 paragraphs each max)
- Table of contents for pages longer than 3 screens
- Progressive disclosure for detail
- Group related form fields into labelled fieldsets

## Assessment Checklist

- [ ] Every page has a clear, descriptive title
- [ ] Navigation is consistent across all pages (same position, same order)
- [ ] Current location is always visually indicated
- [ ] Breadcrumbs or back links are present in hierarchies
- [ ] Multi-step flows show progress and allow backward movement
- [ ] Search is available on every page
- [ ] Important actions are reachable in 2 clicks or fewer
- [ ] Headings describe content (not just categories)
- [ ] Link text describes the destination (no "click here")

## Output Format

When reviewing: identify navigation failures with specific locations
and recommended fixes. When designing: present the information
architecture with cognitive accessibility annotations.