Did you know that 67% of mobile sites provide poor navigation experiences? This shows why navigation icons matter in website usability. A navigation icon helps users move around your site with less effort. A clear navigation icon can show where a user can go, what a button does or how to open a menu. Good icons can support fast scanning and make key actions easier to spot.In this guide, we will explain how navigation icons improve the usability of your website, how to use them in an effective way and common mistakes to avoid.
Key Takeaways
- Choose recognisable symbols such as home, search, menu and account icons to help users understand navigation quickly.
- Icons with unclear meanings should have text labels so users know what each option does.
- Place navigation icons where users expect them and make them large enough to see and tap easily.
- Icons can save space on small screens, but hiding important navigation can make it harder for users to discover.
- A/B testing and user testing can show whether your navigation icons actually improve usability, engagement and conversions.
What Is a Navigation Icon?
A navigation icon is a small graphic that helps users move through a website. Common examples include the home icon, search icon, menu icon, back arrow and account icon. They can also save space and help users recognise common actions at a glance.
How Navigation Icons Improve Website Usability
Navigation icons give users quick visual clues about where they can navigate and what they can do on a website. Below, we explain some key points on how these icons improve the usability of your site.
Make Navigation Easier to Understand
Icons not only improve usability but also help users understand the interface. They should clearly convey their meaning so users can quickly understand what each icon represents. A home symbol can suggest the home page, while a magnifying glass can suggest a search page. These are common examples of icons for navigation. A clear set of icons for navigation works best when the symbol matches the right action. If it is unclear, users may stop, guess or choose the wrong option.
Help Users Find Important Pages
A navigation icon can make key areas easier to spot. For example, search, account, shopping cart and home page are commonly used, and users want to find them quickly. That’s why putting icons for these pages in expected places helps users build a mental map of the site.
Reduce Cognitive Load
A well-placed navigation icon can reduce the amount of text users need to process. A familiar symbol can act as a quick signpost. Users can scan it and move on instead of reading a long description. W3C advises using familiar icons next to the content or controls they relate to. This can help people with language, learning or reading difficulties find key content and move through a page. The key is to keep the meaning simple. Each icon should point to one clear action or idea.
Improve Mobile Navigation
A navigation icon can help save space on small screens. Icons are useful when there is not enough room for a large menu. A menu icon can open a navigation panel, while search and account icons can give direct access to common features. However, hiding navigation under an icon can make it harder for users to find.
Speed Up Navigation
A familiar navigation icon can help users find an option quickly. This does not mean every icon makes navigation faster. The result depends on how clear, visible and easy to find icon is.Susan Farrell, a web usability consultant, has noted that good navigation should show where you can go and where you are now. That’s why clear visual cues can support this journey and play a key role in the speed of navigation.
How to Use Navigation Icons Effectively
To use navigation icons in an effective way, you can pair them with text labels. This helps prevent user confusion. In addition, the best practice is to use icons that are easy to understand and designed to work for all users.
Common Navigation Icon Mistakes to Avoid
Poorly designed navigation icons can confuse users instead of helping them. The table given below highlights some common mistakes you should avoid. 
Case Study: How A/B Test Improves Mobile Navigation
UK-based jewellery brand Lisa Angel wanted to make its site easier to use on mobile devices. Its website header had too many elements competing for users’ attention. To solve this issue, Lisa Angel worked with a digital agency to test a new design using an A/B test. In the new version, the hamburger menu was moved to the left side of the header. The login and signup options were also moved inside the menu. This made the navigation icon easier to use and reduced clutter in the header. After these changes, the results were positive. These include interactions with the hamburger menu and its sub-menus, which increased by 6%, while add-to-cart rates increased by 3%. The site also saw a 6% increase in its overall conversion rate.This case study shows that a navigation icon does not need extra features to improve usability. Simply placing it clearly, making it easy to find and reducing clutter can help users find their desired content around the website and explore more products.
Conclusion
Navigation icons can make your site easier to use when they are clear and visible. They help users spot key controls and move between pages. The best approach for using icons in an effective way is simple. You should use familiar symbols, add labels when the meaning of an icon is not clear, place icons where users expect them and make every control accessible to every user. Most importantly, test your icons with real users. At Xoom Plus, our experts help you improve the usability of your site by using effective strategies for navigation icons.
FAQs
Yes, when the icon’s meaning may not be clear. Text labels remove guesswork and make navigation easier to understand.