hovednavigationspunkter

Hovednavigation, often translated as main navigation in English, refers to the primary set of links that give access to the most important sections of a website or application. It is designed to help users form a mental model of the site’s structure and quickly reach key content. In practice, hovednavigation is typically presented as a horizontal bar across the top of pages or as a vertical menu in a side column, and may include dropdowns to reveal subpages.

Designers aim for clarity and efficiency, usually limiting the number of top-level items and using concise, recognizable labels. Common top-level categories include products or services, about, support, and contact. For larger sites, deeper navigation can be organized in secondary menus or megamenus, while the main navigation remains a stable, high-level guide.

Accessibility is central to good hovednavigation. It should be constructed with semantic HTML such as a nav element, descriptive labels, and keyboard operability. Screen readers, contrast ratios, and visible focus outlines are important. Responsive designs may transform horizontal menus into collapsible or off-canvas patterns for small screens while preserving the same structure.

Best practices include consistent placement across pages, predictable behavior (submenus open on hover or focus), and clear labeling. Avoid deep hierarchies, use progressive disclosure for complex sites, and provide easy ways to skip navigation. Performance considerations and search engine visibility also influence how the main navigation is built.

Main navigation sits alongside other navigational elements such as breadcrumb trails, footer links, and secondary menus. Together these components help users determine where they are and how to move through the site.