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Thread: Skip to navigation link

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From: David Biňovec
Date: Tue, Feb 16 2010 3:27AM
Subject: Skip to navigation link
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Hello,

I would like to know you opinion about "Skip to navigation" link. As I'm used to code navigation at the bottom of the html code (rigth above footer and the end of the tag) and use CSS to move it to the top of visible webpage, I do not need to use "skip navigation" or "skip to main content" link - main content is served right to you. Is this link useful and if so, should i use the same rules as for "skip nav"?

Or I am totally wrong with putting navigation links to the bottom of the html code?

Thanks in advance

David Biňovec

From: Geof Collis
Date: Tue, Feb 16 2010 6:21AM
Subject: Re: Skip to navigation link
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Hi David

I am a screen reader user, sometimes I like to
use skip links and putting them at the bottom of
the code is next to useless for me.


cheers

Geof

At 04:27 AM 2/16/2010, you wrote:
>Hello, I would like to know you opinion about
>"Skip to navigation" link. As I'm used to code
>navigation at the bottom of the html code (rigth
>above footer and the end of the tag) and use
>CSS to move it to the top of visible webpage, I
>do not need to use "skip navigation" or "skip to
>main content" link - main content is served
>right to you. Is this link useful and if so,
>should i use the same rules as for "skip nav"?
>Or I am totally wrong with putting navigation
>links to the bottom of the html code? Thanks in
>advance David Biňovec
>

From: David Biňovec
Date: Tue, Feb 16 2010 6:30AM
Subject: Re: Skip to navigation link
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Hello Geof,

Thank you for you reply. But, I think that you did not understand me ( maybe it is because of my English :-) ). I do not want to put skiplinks to the bottom of the code. I am in a situation when the main content is in the begining of the html code and after the main content, there is a classic navigation throught the website.

My question is about a skiplink to that navigation. You know, right before the main content, there would be a link to skip the main content and reach the navigation which is below the main content. That is my point. If the skip to navigation from the top of the page is meaningfull.

cheers

David Binovec

From: Geof Collis
Date: Tue, Feb 16 2010 6:51AM
Subject: Re: Skip to navigation link
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Hi David

That's it. I'm not a fan of content first, so I
need a skip link at the top to find the
navigation otherwise I have to hunt for it.


cheers

Geof
At 07:29 AM 2/16/2010, you wrote:
>Hello Geof,
>
>Thank you for you reply. But, I think that you
>did not understand me ( maybe it is because of
>my English :-) ). I do not want to put skiplinks
>to the bottom of the code. I am in a situation
>when the main content is in the begining of the
>html code and after the main content, there is a
>classic navigation throught the website.
>My question is about a skiplink to that
>navigation. You know, right before the main
>content, there would be a link to skip the main
>content and reach the navigation which is below
>the main content. That is my point. If the skip
>to navigation from the top of the page is meaningfull.
>
>cheers
>
>David Binovec
>

From: Jared Smith
Date: Tue, Feb 16 2010 8:21AM
Subject: Re: Skip to navigation link
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On Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 2:27 AM, David Biňovec < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

> Or I am totally wrong with putting navigation links to the bottom of the html code?

I wouldn't say that it's wrong, but it is very unconventional and can
cause problems. Screen reader users are used to hearing navigation
near the beginning, just like sighted users are used to seeing it near
the top of the page.

Consider your home page. Most content is not found on a home page.
Instead, users come to a home page to find a link or search
functionality that will get them closer to that content. If the main
navigation is at the end of the page, they may give up trying to find
it well before they get to it.

Also, those with vision who use a keyboard may become confused if the
navigation order jumps all over as they tab through the page.

In general, I'd recommend having the code/navigation order match the
visual order in almost all cases. In your case, because you're using
CSS positioning, this should be an easy fix - just rearrange the code
order.

Jared Smith
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