Navigation is how users move through your app — using menus, tabs, buttons, or gestures to access different screens and features.
Why It Matters
- Directly affects how easy and intuitive your app is to use.
- Impacts user retention by reducing friction and confusion.
- Improves conversion by guiding users to key actions smoothly.
- Strengthens accessibility for users with different needs.
- Reinforces app structure and flow for long-term scalability.
Use This Term When...
- You're wireframing or designing your app’s layout.
- You're discussing user flows and journeys with the product team.
- You're prioritising usability or accessibility improvements.
- You're evaluating user engagement and drop-off points.
- You're implementing a new feature that needs seamless access.
Real-World Example
We optimized the Navigation in one of our projects by simplifying the menu structure and using consistent tab bars. This improved ease of use, reduced cognitive load, and led to faster task completion by users.
Founder Insight
If users can’t figure out where to go next in your app, they’ll leave. Great navigation is invisible — it feels natural, not forced. Test it early and often.
Key Metrics / Concepts
- Tap Depth – How many taps it takes to reach key content or features.
- Navigation Drop-off Rate – Where users abandon the flow.
- Menu Interaction Rate – Frequency of users opening and using navigation menus.
- Time to Task Completion – How fast users reach desired outcomes.
- Back Navigation Rate – How often users reverse their steps, indicating confusion.
Tools & Technologies
- React Navigation – Widely used in React Native apps to manage screen transitions.
- Flutter Navigator – Manages navigation stacks and routes in Flutter apps.
- Figma / Adobe XD – Used to prototype and test navigation during design phase.
What’s Next / Future Trends
Gesture-based and voice-driven navigation are rising fast. Context-aware navigation that adjusts based on behaviour, location, or time of day will define the next generation of intuitive UX.
Related Terms
UX Design – Encompasses navigation as a core part of user experience.
Wireframes – Blueprint where navigation is first planned.
User Flow – Visual map of how users move through the app.
UI Design – Covers the elements (buttons, menus) that enable navigation.
Accessibility – Inclusive navigation ensures all users can move through the app.
Helpful Videos / Articles / Pages
Blog: Navigating the Future: EB Pearls and the Top Navigation Apps in Australia
Blog: 2022 Web Design Trends You Might Not Have Expected
Call to Action
Want to make sure your app navigation feels effortless? We’re here to help you map it out and optimise the experience from first tap to final action.