Term
Dropdown Menu
Definition
A Dropdown Menu is a navigation tool on a website that shows additional links (sub-links) when you click on it or hover your mouse over it. It organizes website content by grouping related pages under a common category.
Where you'll find it
Dropdown Menus are typically found in the main navigation bar of a website. They are widely available across various web design platforms like WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace, though the degree of customization may vary depending on the platform and the selected plan or template.
Common use cases
- Organizing related pages under a single menu item to save space and reduce clutter on the main navigation bar.
- Improving user experience by making the website easier to navigate and the content more accessible.
- Streamlining the design of ecommerce sites by categorizing products or services neatly.
Things to watch out for
- Overloading a dropdown with too many sub-links can overwhelm users and complicate navigation.
- Ensuring the dropdown is easily clickable and visible on all devices, particularly mobiles where hover functions don’t work.
- Compatibility with the website’s responsive design to ensure it functions well on various screen sizes.
Related terms
- Sub-links
- Navigation Bar
- Responsive Design
- User Experience (UX)
- Website Builder