The Architecture of Web Sites
Web site architecture is the layout of the web site. It refers to how the different pages of the site link to each other and make up the whole of the site. The architecture of the web site is important in the overall appearance and usability of the site. Again, user centered design comes into play here. The user will not receive the content of the site well if the anatomy of the site is disjointed or confusing. For example, if an item on the menu bar lists one page of the site, but links to a completely different page. The user will not respond well to the architecture of the site, and they may even feel that the site is not relevant or is poorly made.
The creator must make a plan for the architecture of the website early on. The plan for the web site architecture must be made early so it is malleable and can be changes should new problems arise. The article, "Anatomy of a website: website architecture" blogpost goes into detail about the elements that should be included in a web site architecture plan. Understanding the user is one of the important parts of the architecture plan the article includes. The user is central to the web site architecture in that they user must be considered at all points in the creation process.
Another important consideration when thinking of usability is the structure of the web site architecture. According to the article "Information Architecture 101: Techniques and Best Practices,"web page, architecture design pattern can be in a "single page, flat structure, index page, strict hierarchy pattern, or a co-existing hierarchy's pattern." It is up the creator of the website to decide on which architecture pattern best suits their specific goals for the website and overall ease of use.
The architecture of the web site is something the creator of the website should consider every step if the way. The architecture plan must be make early, so it can be easily changed to fit the changing needs of the content and design. Furthermore, the plan selected for the website should be one that supports the overall goals of the website. Usability is always a major consideration in ever part of website creation.
