SharePoint Site Navigation: A Tutorial on Creating a Breadcrumb Navigation

SharePoint is a powerful tool for creating and managing websites and intranets. One important aspect of any website is its navigation, which helps users easily navigate through the site and find the information they need. In this tutorial, we will focus on creating a breadcrumb navigation in SharePoint.

What is Breadcrumb Navigation?

Breadcrumb navigation is a type of navigation that displays the user's current location within the website hierarchy. It typically appears at the top of the page and provides links to the parent pages, allowing users to easily navigate back to previous pages.

Why Use Breadcrumb Navigation in SharePoint?

There are several benefits to using breadcrumb navigation in SharePoint:

• Improved User Experience: Breadcrumb navigation provides users with a clear path to their current location within the site, making it easier for them to navigate and find information.
• Time-saving: Users can quickly navigate back to previous pages without having to rely on the browser's back button.
• Consistency: Breadcrumb navigation provides a consistent navigation experience across the site, making it easier for users to understand and navigate.

Creating a Breadcrumb Navigation in SharePoint

Now that we understand the benefits of using breadcrumb navigation in SharePoint, let's dive into the steps to create one:

Step 1: Enable Publishing Features

Before we can create a breadcrumb navigation, we need to enable the publishing features in SharePoint. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Site Settings of your SharePoint site.
2. Under Site Actions, click on Manage site features.
3. Scroll down and find the SharePoint Server Publishing feature.
4. Click on Activate to enable the feature.

Step 2: Create a Breadcrumb Navigation App

Once the publishing features are enabled, we can create a breadcrumb navigation app. Follow these steps:

1. Go to the Site Contents of your SharePoint site.
2. Click on add an app.
3. Search for "Promoted Links" and click on it to create a new app.
4. Enter a name for the app, such as "Breadcrumb Navigation".
5. Click on Create to create the app.

Step 3: Add Breadcrumb Links

Now that we have created the breadcrumb navigation app, we can add the links to it. Follow these steps:

1. Go to the Breadcrumb Navigation app we created in the previous step.
2. Click on "+ New Item" to add a new link.
3. Enter the title of the link, such as "Home".
4. Enter the URL of the link, such as "/sites/home".
5. Click on Save to save the link.

Step 4: Customize the Breadcrumb Navigation

After adding the breadcrumb links, we can customize the navigation to fit our needs. Follow these steps:

1. Go to the Breadcrumb Navigation app.
2. Click on the "Edit" button to edit the app.
3. Click on the "Format Text" tab in the ribbon.
4. Use the formatting options to customize the appearance of the navigation.
5. Click on Save to save the changes.

Conclusion

Breadcrumb navigation is a useful feature in SharePoint that improves the user experience and makes it easier for users to navigate through the site. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can easily create a breadcrumb navigation in SharePoint and customize it to fit your needs.