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A navigation bar (or navigation system) is a section of a graphical user interface intended to aid visitors in accessing information. Navigation bars are implemented in file browsers, web browsers and as a design element of some web sites.
Contents
File browsers
File browsers use a navigation bar to assist the user in traversing the filesystem. Navigation bars may include the current path, breadcrumbs, or a list of favorites.
Web browsers
A web browser navigation bar includes the back and forward buttons, as well as the Location bar where URLs are entered. Formerly the functionality of the navigation bar was split between the browser's toolbar and the address bar, but Google Chrome introduced the practice of merging the two. Some early versions of Netscape used the HTML link tag to construct a navigation bar to navigate web sites. Today the nav tag can be used for the same purpose.
Web design
Typically, web sites will have a primary navigation bar and a secondary navigation bar on all pages. These sections of the webpage will include links to the most important sections of the site. The implementation and design of navigation bars is a crucial aspect of web design and web usability.