Websites and applications use breadcrumbs, an important navigation tool, to enhance user experience and offer a clear way to return to earlier pages. They work as a secondary navigation system, frequently appearing as a horizontal text trail, which helps users navigate effectively and understand where they are in a site's ranking. In this blog, we explain breadcrumbs, their types, advantages, best practices for implementation, and effects on SEO and user experience.
What is Breadcrumb?
Breadcrumbs are small navigational links that help users understand their location on a website. They usually appear at the top of a web page and show a clear path from the homepage to the current page. For example, a breadcrumb for an online store might look like this:
Home > Electronics > Mobile Phones > Samsung
Why Are Breadcrumbs Important?
- Better Navigation: They help users easily go back to previous pages.
- SEO Benefits: Search engines use breadcrumbs to understand website structure.
- Improved User Experience: Visitors can find relevant pages quickly.
Breadcrumbs make browsing smoother and help users avoid getting lost on a website!
Types of Breadcrumbs
There are several types of Breadcrumbs, but we mostly talk about the three main Breadcrumb, as given below:
- Hierarchy-based Breadcrumb(location-based):- This type of Breadcrumb is particularly useful for users who land on your websites from Google search results. It helps the users to go back and have a look at the hierarchy to explore more of the options on the website.
Example:- Home > Blog > Digital Marketing > SEO Tips
- Path-based(history-based Breadcrumbs):- These breadcrumbs show the entire path traveled by the users to reach the particular page. These Breadcrumbs types are seldom used because the browser's back does the same job.
Example:- Home > Previous Page > Current Page
- Attributes-based:- It shows the attributes a user has selected on a particular page. These breadcrumb trails are often used by e-commerce platforms, where users are given the option to select product attributes and filter search results on a category page.
Example:- Home > Electronics > Laptops > Dell > 16GB RAM
Best practices for Breadcrumb
Breadcrumbs are a vital part of web navigation and play an important role in enhancing the user and SEO experience. Here are some best practices for Breadcrumb, so let's go through them all:
- Maintain a clear Hierarchical structure: Breadcrumbs reflects the structure to help the users and search engines understand where they are within the site. <!-- /wp:list-item
- Maintain a clear Hierarchical structure: Breadcrumbs reflects the structure to help the users and search engines understand where they are within the site. <!-- /wp:list-item
- Ensure Breadcrumbs are visible and easy: Breadcrumbs are to be placed in a location where users can quickly navigate backward. Their position in the page layout is important for usability. Keeping Breadcrumbs visible without scrolling. So they can easily get to them from any page.
- Use simple descriptive labels: Breadcrumbs should be written in simple and understandable language with no Jargon or complicated terms. Ensure that the labels correspond with the terms that are used on your website.
- Limit the number of levels: Long Breadcrumbs trails with many levels can overcome users. Keeping it short helps them understand their navigation options without confusion. Keep Breadcrumbs trails within 3 to 4 levels maximum.
- Your type of site
- Your site's Content Management System (CMS)
- Your type of Breadcrumb
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Example: Home> category> subcategory> product page.
Example: Home> Blog> Articles> How to implement SEO.
Example: Home> Products> Electronics> Smartphone.
Example: Home> Category> Product.
Implementing Breadcrumbs on web design
Implementation of Breadcrumbs on our website is a great way to increase user navigation and improve SEO. Breadcrumbs are usually placed at the top of a page to show the user's path from the homepage to their current location on the website.
There are four main implementation parts of Breadcrumb given below:
HTML implementation
HTML should be implemented using basic HTML. Here's a simple HTML structure for Breadcrumb.
Example;- <nav aria-label="breadcrumb"> <ol> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li>
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CSS styling
To make Breadcrumbs visually appealing, you'll need some basic CSS styling. Here's an example of how to style Breadcrumb:
Example:- nav[aria-label="breadcrumb"] { font-size: 14px; padding: 10px 0; } nav[aria-label="breadcrumb"] ol { list-style: none; padding: 0; margin: 0; } nav[aria-label="breadcrumb"] li { display: inline; margin-right: 8px; } nav[aria-label="breadcrumb"] li a { text-decoration: none; color: #007bff; } nav[aria-label="breadcrumb"] li::after { content: ">"; margin-left: 8px; } nav[aria-label="breadcrumb"] li:last-child::after { content: ""; } nav[aria-label="breadcrumb"] li a:hover { text-decoration: underline; }
Adding schema markup for SEO
Adding schema markup to the Breadcrumbs will make them more SEO friendly so that search engines such as Google understand the Breadcrumb structure. Use JSON-LD structured data to markup your Breadcrumb trail.
Example: <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://schema.org," "@type": "BreadcrumbList," "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem," "position": 1, "name": "Home," "item": "https://www.yoursite.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Category", "item": "https://www.yoursite.com/category" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Subcategory", "item": "https://www.yoursite.com/category/subcategory" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Current Page", "item": "https://www.yoursite.com/category/subcategory/product" } ] } </script>
Javascript-based Breadcrumbs
If your structure is energetic or dynamic, like a single page application, or it updates without reloading the pages, you might use Javascript to get Breadcrumbs. Here is an example using Javascript:
Example: <script type="text/javascript"> const breadcrumb = [ { name: 'Home', link: '/' }, { name: 'Category', link: '/category' }, { name: 'Subcategory', link: '/category/subcategory' }, { name: 'Current Page', link: '' } // Current page doesn't need a link ]; let breadcrumbHTML = '<nav aria-label="breadcrumb"><ol>'; breadcrumb.forEach((item, index) => { if (item.link) { breadcrumbHTML += `<li><a href="${item.link}">${item.name}</a></li>`; } else { breadcrumbHTML += `<li>${item.name}</li>`; // Last item is not a link } if (index < breadcrumb.length - 1) { breadcrumbHTML += ' <span> > </span>'; } }); breadcrumbHTML += '</ol></nav>'; document.getElementById('breadcrumb-container').innerHTML = breadcrumbHTML; </script> <div id="breadcrumb-container"></div>
How do you add Breadcrumb to your website?
Applying Breadcrumbs on your site involves several flexibility. Here we go through some of the examples include:
Depending on your website, adding the Breadcrumb can be as easy as installing a gadget(appliance) or adding it to your site. Other times, however, it can be hours of work from a development team to design and launch the perfect structure for your website.
How do you optimize Breadcrumbs for SEO?
You have to be careful while optimizing your breadcrumbs for SEO. Over-optimization can attract penalties from search engines. There is no penalty for not optimizing them enough if your Breadcrumb structure makes sense. However, it is best to play safe and avoid keyword stuffing. Keep in mind that Breadcrumb is there to describe a hierarchy. Use Breadcrumb, for instance, if your page occupies just two categories.
In addition, you don't need to replace critical aspects of your websites, such as your navigation, with Breadcrumbs. Instead, you use them as supplements for other features, like products. Categories or resource libraries are not the main navigation for your site.
How do Breadcrumbs help SEO?
Breadcrumbs are useful for both users and search engines. They improve SEO (Search Engine Optimization) by making websites easier to navigate and helping search engines understand site structure. Here's how breadcrumbs benefit SEO:
Better User Experience
Breadcrumbs improve the user experience by making website navigation easier. They act as a roadmap, showing users their current page location and how they got there. This helps visitors quickly backtrack to previous pages without using the back button. When users find a website that is easy to explore, they stay longer and engage more with the content. This reduces frustration and increases the chances of them interacting with multiple pages. As a result, bounce rates decrease, and the website's overall engagement improves. A smooth navigation experience keeps users happy and encourages them to return, benefiting both visitors and site owners.
Improved Indexing
Search engines like Google use breadcrumbs to understand the structure of a website. Breadcrumbs show how different pages are linked, making it easier for search engines to crawl and index content efficiently. When search engines can navigate a site better, they rank its pages more accurately. This helps websites appear in relevant search results, increasing visibility. Additionally, breadcrumbs provide extra links in search results, improving click-through rates. A well-structured breadcrumb trail ensures that search engines recognize the importance of each page, ultimately helping with better SEO and making content more accessible to both users and search engines.
Enhanced Click-Through Rate (CTR)
Breadcrumbs improve the way links appear in search results by showing a clear path of the web page's location. This makes the search results more structured and attractive, increasing the chances of users clicking on the link. A well-organized breadcrumb trail helps users understand what to expect on the page, leading to more engagement. When people find a website easy to navigate, they are more likely to explore other pages, reducing bounce rates. Additionally, breadcrumbs provide additional links in search results, making your website more visible and improving CTR, which ultimately benefits your SEO and overall website performance.
Lower Bounce Rate
When users visit a website and leave immediately without exploring other pages, the bounce rate increases. Breadcrumbs help reduce bounce rates by giving users an easy way to navigate back to previous pages instead of exiting the site. If a visitor lands on a product page but wants to explore other options, they can quickly return to a category or homepage using breadcrumbs. This keeps them engaged, encourages them to browse more content, and increases the chances of conversions. A lower bounce rate signals to search engines that your site is valuable, which can also improve SEO rankings.
Keyword Optimization
Breadcrumbs naturally contain important keywords related to a website's structure. These keywords help search engines understand the content of a page better. When breadcrumbs include relevant keywords, they provide additional context for search engines, improving the chances of ranking higher in search results. For example, if a breadcrumb path contains words like "Home > Shoes > Running Shoes," search engines associate the page with those terms. This not only improves visibility but also attracts the right audience. Keyword-rich breadcrumbs contribute to SEO optimization, making it easier for potential customers to find your website through organic search.
How To Add Breadcrumbs To WordPress Website
Breadcrumbs help improve website navigation and SEO. Here's how you can easily add breadcrumbs to your WordPress website:
Method 1: Using Yoast SEO Plugin (Easy Way)
Install & Activate Yoast SEO: Go to Plugins > Add New, search for Yoast SEO, install, and activate it.
Enable Breadcrumbs: Go to Yoast SEO > Settings > Advanced and turn on Breadcrumbs.
Add Breadcrumbs to Theme: Copy the provided shortcode and paste it into header.php or single.php in your theme files.
Save & Test: Refresh your site to check if breadcrumbs appear correctly.
Method 2: Using a Breadcrumbs Plugin
Install Breadcrumb NavXT from the WordPress Plugin Directory.
Activate the plugin and go to Settings > Breadcrumb NavXT to configure it.
Use the provided widget or shortcode to display breadcrumbs on your site.
Both methods improve user experience and help search engines understand your site's structure.
Conclusion
Breadcrumbs are a simple and effective way to help users navigate websites. They show a clear path from the homepage to the current page, making it easy to backtrack if needed. Breadcrumbs improve user experience by reducing confusion and helping visitors find what they need faster. They also benefit SEO by helping search engines understand website structure. There are three main types: hierarchical, attribute-based, and history-based. Overall, breadcrumbs enhance navigation, improve website usability, and support better search rankings. They are a small but powerful tool that makes browsing more convenient for users and more efficient for search engines.
