browsande

Brow sande is a term used in information science and media studies to describe a pattern of online navigation characterized by rapid, non-linear exploration across multiple topics and sources. Typical browsande flows begin with a broad query or a recommended piece, followed by quick transitions through linked articles, videos, and search results. The activity often involves brief visits per item but across many items, forming a loosely connected path rather than a linear reading sequence.

Origins of the term are found in discussions of digital navigation from the late 2000s to the early 2010s, where researchers attempted to capture how modern platforms encourage exploratory, serendipitous encounters with content rather than focused, task-driven browsing. The concept is used to describe observer patterns in user behavior as well as design effects produced by interfaces, recommendations, and infinite-scroll environments.

Characteristics of browsande include frequent topic switching, a high rate of page exits, reliance on hyperlinks and recommendations, and cross-device continuity. Users often follow a path shaped by algorithmic surfaces such as personalized feeds, topic clusters, and thumbnail previews, rather than a fixed sequence of information. The behavior can be influenced by user goals, such as gratification, curiosity, or incidental discovery, as well as by platform design and contextual cues.

Implications for design and research are practical. Understanding browsande can inform content discovery features, navigation aids, and serendipity-enhancing interfaces, while also highlighting risks such as cognitive overload and distraction. Researchers may measure brow sande with metrics like path entropy, dwell time across sessions, and jump rate to better characterize exploration patterns.

See also: browsing behavior, information foraging theory, serendipity in online platforms.