doorwaybased

Doorwaybased is a term used in information architecture and web design to describe a design approach that structures content around doorway pages, which act as entry points to broader topics within a site. In this context, a doorway page is a landing page optimized to address a specific user intent and to guide visitors toward related content across the site. The doorwaybased approach emphasizes clear topic framing, concise initial summaries, and predictable pathways to deeper information.

Design principles commonly associated with doorwaybased include topic focus on each doorway page, scannable content, consistent navigation, and measured disclosure of related subtopics to prevent user frustration. The technique aims to reduce cognitive load by presenting a clear starting point and a pathway to related resources, rather than forcing users to guess where to click next.

In practice, doorwaybased structures are common in large organizational sites, encyclopedic repositories, and educational platforms, where gateways route users to program pages, collections, or departmental sections. A typical implementation creates several doorway pages organized by high-level topics, each linking to more granular content.

Criticism centers on the risk of overuse or misuse, potential duplication of content, and accessibility concerns. Critics also point out that when doorway pages become mere funnels rather than informative hubs, user experience suffers. Additionally, search engines periodically reevaluate doorway-content practices, emphasizing useful, user-focused content over gateway manipulation.

Related concepts include doorway pages in SEO, information architecture patterns such as hub-and-spoke models, and topic-based navigation.