Why Are Buttons Discouraged for Website Navigation?

Navigational Button Usage Discouraged

Introduction

In web development, it is common practice to style tags to resemble buttons instead of employing tags for navigation purposes. This article aims to explore the underlying reasons behind this trend, debunking flimsy claims and presenting factual justifications.

Issues with Buttons in Navigation

While buttons offer aesthetic appeal, they present several practical limitations when employed for navigation:

1. Lack of Search Engine Visibility

Unlike text within tags, button text is invisible to search engines, impeding website discoverability and SEO ranking.

2. Update Complexity

Updating button images requires the use of graphic editing tools like Photoshop, making it a tedious process compared to the simplicity of modifying text within tags.

3. Slow Loading Times

Buttons load slower than tags due to the overhead of image rendering, impacting user experience, particularly on mobile devices.

4. Accessibility Concerns

Buttons are less accessible to visually impaired users who rely on screen readers. Screen readers may not recognize buttons properly, hindering navigation for these users.

5. Unnecessary with Modern Tools

With advancements in web technologies such as TypeKit, it is now possible to use non-standard fonts on tags, eliminating the need for image-based buttons.

The Core Principle

Despite the apparent shortcomings of buttons, the fundamental reason they are discouraged for navigation purposes lies in their primary function. Buttons are designed for actions that trigger immediate functionality, such as submitting forms or invoking specific actions on the current page.

In contrast, tags are specifically intended for navigation, redirecting users to different pages or sections of a website. As clarified by W3C standards, "If it navigates, it is a link. Use link markup with a valid hypertext reference."

Conclusion

In summary, the discouragement against using buttons for navigation stems from their inherent limitations in search visibility, update complexity, loading speed, accessibility concerns, and their deviation from the core principle of navigation, which is the primary function of tags. For effective and standards-compliant navigation, it is advisable to employ tags appropriately, ensuring accessibility and optimal user experience.

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