Website Structures

Websites are constructed using three basic architectures:

1. Sequences - simplest way, only option is to proceed to 'next page'
2. Hierarchies - most common site structure, user starts at homepage and navigates throughout the site with a navigation bar
3. Web structures - few restrictions on movement through site, links highly common and move user throughout site

Example of a Sequence Design - Website Design Tutorial 

The bottom of each page has a selection option to bring user to the following page. This design is most often used in teaching or training sites.









Example of a Hierarchy Design - CIT Website

Users are brought to this homepage, where they have a clear selection of categories to browse in the navigation panels.









Example of a Web Design - Wikipedia

Wikipedia entries allow the user to navigate through the site as desired. Highlighted links to other information are highly common and can redirect the user to new information sources. Wikis are the most common users of the web structure.