should a navigation bar include a "home" button?

BostonWebPaul · 05-03-2007, 01:55 PM

For years, I have been leaving "home" links off site navigation if the site has a company name/ logo at the top left of the site that is linked to the home page. I had thought that this was self-explanatory.

But, I am makaing a site for a business owner that is 70 yo and i am wondering how much to try to convince her that it isnt needed.

Anyone have any opnions on this? or good sources to help decide the issue?

The site has room for a home button. My graphic artist thinks its redundant (he's 27) and the client thinks its needed (she's 70). Of course the client is always right, but it doesnt mean that I dont try to talk her into the best practice.

--Paul... thanks for your ideas.

**ScriptMan** · 05-03-2007, 02:43 PM

Make everyone happy. Just have two sets of nav links and don't put a button on the home page that does nothing.

BingoBalls · 05-03-2007, 03:38 PM

Not every web user will know that clicking on the header will take them back to the home page (if its linked that is).

Use the home link in the nav bar as it gives the visitor the more obvious option to click back to the home page.

Costin Trifan · 05-03-2007, 08:22 PM

I agree with bingoballs 100% !
Plus, I hate when I have to click the banner to go home... [ I usually do, leaving the page...

]

mastermemei · 05-07-2007, 07:32 AM

It's better to give more features than give dismay to the users.
We should keep in mind that not everyone is "adept" to using websites like most of us

Jesse Vlasveld · 05-07-2007, 07:54 AM

A website being user-friendly is one of the most important factors.
A home button is a major part of user friendliness.
You should add all major pages to the navigation bar, to make it easy for the user to navigate trough your website. And ofcourse its good for Seo. Every page on your site should have a link to <i>every</i> other page on your website. Creating a structure which lets search engines index every page.

When creating a navigation structure for a website try to put yourself in the mind of the most simple human being there would be in the internet, and make sure he can find everything he needs to find.

WebGeek182 · 05-07-2007, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BingoBalls

Not every web user will know that clicking on the header will take them back to the home page (if its linked that is).

Use the home link in the nav bar as it gives the visitor the more obvious option to click back to the home page.

Exactly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by costin_trifan

I agree with bingoballs 100% !
Plus, I hate when I have to click the banner to go home... [ I usually do, leaving the page...

]

I completely agree.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BostonWebPaul

For years, I have been leaving "home" links off site navigation if the site has a company name/ logo at the top left of the site that is linked to the home page. I had thought that this was self-explanatory.

But, I am makaing a site for a business owner that is 70 yo and i am wondering how much to try to convince her that it isnt needed.

Anyone have any opnions on this? or good sources to help decide the issue?

The site has room for a home button. My graphic artist thinks its redundant (he's 27) and the client thinks its needed (she's 70). Of course the client is always right, but it doesnt mean that I dont try to talk her into the best practice.

--Paul... thanks for your ideas.

I've been designing web sites professionally for over a decade, and happen to know a thing or two about making a site user-friendly. ALWAYS make an obvious "HOME" link, preferably at the beginning of the navigation. In web design, subtle redundancy is actually a good thing. Yes, the logo should always be a live link to the home page, but that is not enough. You need to realize that not every user thinks like you do, so it's important to have clearly marked navigation. Remember, a frustrated user is no longer a customer.

waffles · 05-08-2007, 06:42 AM

I like to think that I know what I'm doing around the web, and I didn't realize that the header would be the Home link for a while. I think it was forums that did it for me, and even then it was only because my mouse was too high for the text link.

Really, if it's not going to cause any problems why would you ever leave that link off?

WebGeek182 · 05-09-2007, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waffles

Really, if it's not going to cause any problems why would you ever leave that link off?

Good call.

waffles · 05-09-2007, 08:15 AM

Thank you.

**LazyJim** · 05-11-2007, 03:29 AM

definitely agree to keep the Home link.

I try to think "Would this confuse my Mum?" and if so I don't do it... Imagine some-one who's not that good with computers and the web and makes sure they will be able to use your site, while also keeping all those bits that experienced users expect (like header logo = link home).

straycat · 11-13-2008, 09:39 AM

I have this argument all the time... Yes it is best practices but I see it like this... What is on the homepage you can not find within the website? Why would a user click on home? Because they are lost. If you have a good navigation and your website is not big will people get lost? One big reason to not have the home button is because in this case it is pointless... And why have the user see something that is pointless? Even if they use it all the time... Don't get me wrong in certain situations like large database driven website this would be a good idea to have... Because the user could get lost and you would need to hit home. I just love how just because we do it this way there should not be an exception. I would like to know how many users would leave a website if they have no home navigation option and they never find a situation to need it?

P.S Logo should always click home no matter what...

pontarae · 11-14-2008, 05:31 PM

An obvious Home link on every page is mandatory I believe. Linking from the logo is nice to have however at least half of all surfers I question don't realize that is a typical option.

Yes, it probably IS a generational thing!

straycat · 11-16-2008, 06:03 PM

Yes I am coming around to the idea… I have talked to a few other programmers and internet marketing specialist. I still feel that it might not be necessary but why take the gamble of losing or confusing the user...

DNnetz · 11-28-2008, 05:45 AM

I would like to have a "home" button too. If there's a home link everyone would know where to click. It's some kind of standard. You find home links on almost every website. So you should include it in order to not confuse the visitors.

paranoidandroid · 12-07-2008, 05:59 PM

Definitely add a home link, the average user doesn't know a header links to the home page. Of all the things a client could request on a website it's not even worth debating.

**ScriptMan** · 12-08-2008, 07:29 AM

Gosh this is an old thread.

Since I posted way back when I saw something that would work well on PHP parsed pages. I am assuming the $SERVER variables are used to perform the trick.

If you were on the home page the home link was grayed out but still there. On all other pages is was a regular link. Maybe in the next 6 months I will get around to testing that and be able to post the solution when someone activates this thread again.

D3n!ss3_gÜrL · 12-10-2008, 12:26 PM

Putting Home buttons all over other pages will help users go back to the main page quickly rather clicking the back button everytime.

wre2wre · 01-22-2009, 07:15 AM

From the seo point of view you must include a home button only as a picture. just add an alt='keywords' frame

somanweb · 05-12-2009, 08:18 AM

Hi ,

Home button is very important for any Website.
If the user want to go hme page, it should be very easy.

Moreover giving link to home page in banner is good idea, but most of the user dont know about this.

Soman