Three-click rule
The three-click rule or three click rule is an unofficial web design rule concerning the design of website navigation. It suggests that a user of a website should be able to find any information with no more than three mouse clicks. It is based on the belief that users of a site will become frustrated and often leave if they cannot find the information within the three clicks. Although there is little analytical evidence that this is the case, it is a commonly held belief amongst designers that the three click rule is part of a good system of navigation. Critics of the rule suggest that the number of clicks is not as important as the success of the clicks.[1]
In his book, Taking Your Talent to the Web, Jeffrey Zeldman wrote that the Three-Click Rule is "based on the way people use the Web" and "the rule can help you create sites with intuitive, logical hierarchical structures".[2]
The UK government's business advice site Business Link advises the use of the rule as a 'best practice' in web design.[3]
References
- ^ Testing the Three-Click Rule
- ^ Zeldman, Jeffery (30 May 2001). Taking Your Talent to the Web: Making the Transition from Graphic Design to Web Design. New Riders. p. 448. ISBN 978-0735710733.
- ^ Best practice in web design