Subnavigation

Subnavigation, or subnav, is a secondary navigation system that provides access to subsections within a particular area of a website. It complements the primary navigation by organizing content into a hierarchical structure and helping users drill down from broader categories to more specific pages. Subnavigation is typically designed to reflect the site’s information architecture and to reduce the effort required to locate related content.

Subnavigation can take several forms. It may appear as a horizontal menu located under the main header, a vertical list in a left or side rail, or a series of dropdowns and flyouts tied to a top-level category. Some sites employ megamenus to present multiple subcategories at once. There is also a distinction between global subnavigation, which remains consistent across a broad section of the site, and local subnavigation, which changes when a user enters a different subsection.

Content within subnavigation usually consists of links to related pages or subsections, sometimes grouped under headings or with icons. The current page is often highlighted to indicate position within the structure. Subnavigation is distinct from breadcrumbs, which show a user’s path to the current page, and from primary navigation, which provides access to the main site sections.

Usability and accessibility are key considerations. Subnavigation should be consistent in placement and labeling, provide clear and concise link text, and support keyboard and screen reader navigation. On mobile devices, subnavigation commonly condenses into an expandable menu or an off-canvas panel to preserve screen space while maintaining access to subsections.