A top-down tree is an intuitive navigation pattern that allows users to explore a hierarchical site structure. This type of navigation pattern has been around for ages and was originally used by explorers, who would use the map of the land as their guide. The top down tree works well on responsive sites because it doesn’t require additional horizontal scrolling. There are many benefits to using this navigation strategy, including increased conversion rates and improved user experience. Read more about how you can implement a top down tree in your next design project!
In the top down tree, users are able to explore a hierarchical site structure. The top-down navigation pattern feels familiar and intuitive for most people because it is similar to the way explorers used maps of their land as guides in ancient times. This type of navigation also works well on responsive sites since there isn’t any horizontal scrolling required when using this strategy. There are many benefits that come with implementing this design strategy, including increased conversion rates and improved user experience among others.
The Top Down Tree: A Hierarchical Navigation Pattern For Responsive Sites [Infographic]
What is the top-down tree navigation pattern?
The top down tree (also called hierarchical) is a type of navigation wherein users are encouraged to explore and choose from different levels. The site can be configured in such a way that all the items on one level have direct links to those at other levels, or alternatively so that only their branches lead upwards. This strategy works well for mobile devices since there’s no need for horizontal scrolling: it also has many benefits which will explain below!
How would you implement this design strategy? It should be easy enough to create your own top down navigation with just HTML, CSS, and JavaScript after reading through this article – but if not, use Wix or Squarespace for your website and they’ll do it for you.
This is a top down tree:
Branch level one- child branches of this branch are not shown, but exist at the same depth in the hierarchy as their sibling from level two. When viewed on desktop or tablet devices, each item below will have its own line to scroll through that doesn’t need to be combined with other items on the page because there’s enough room horizontally. This design strategy also makes it easy to quickly identify what content would go well together in a layout without having an excess of “junk” pages (since everything can just sit under one umbrella). However if all levels were visible at once when viewing on mobile device an example being a mobile device with a small screen like an iPhone then the top levels could be combined and shown in one long scrolling list.
Branch level two- child branches of this branch are not shown, but exist at the same depth in the hierarchy as their sibling from level three. When viewed on desktop or tablet devices, each item below will have its own line to scroll through that doesn’t need to be combined with other items on the page because there’s enough room horizontally. This design strategy also makes it easy to quickly identify what content would go well together in a layout without having an excess of “junk” pages (since everything can just sit under one umbrella). However if all levels were visible at once when viewing on mobile device
then the top levels could be combined and shown in one long scrolling list. Branch level two- child branches of this branch are not shown, but exist at the same depth in the hierarchy as their sibling from level three. When viewed on desktop or tablet devices, each item below will have its own line to scroll through that doesn’t need to be combined with other items on the page because there’s enough room horizontally. This design strategy also makes it easy to quickly identify what content would go well together in a layout without having an excess of “junk” pages (since everything can just sit under one umbrella). However if all levels were visible at once when viewing on mobile device
then the top levels could be combined and shown in one long scrolling list. Branch level two- child branches of this branch are not shown, but exist at the same depth in the hierarchy as their sibling from level three. When viewed on desktop or tablet devices, each item below will have its own line to scroll through that doesn’t need to be combined with other items on the page because there’s enough room horizontally. This design strategy also makes it easy to quickly identify what content would go well together in a layout without having an excess of “junk” pages (since everything can just sit under one umbrella). However if all levels were visible at once when viewing on mobile device
