Table of content
- Introduction to Boosting User Experience
- What is an Active Class?
- Why Add an Active Class to Open Pages?
- Benefits of Adding Active Class to Your Website
- How to Add Active Class to Open Pages with JavaScript?
- Code Example: Adding Active Class to Open Pages in Navbar
- Code Example: Adding Active Class to Open Pages in Side Menu
- Code Example: Adding Active Class to Open Pages in Breadcrumbs
Introduction to Boosting User Experience
Do you want to enhance your website's user experience? If so, you may have come across plenty of recommendations that simply tell you to add more features and content. But what if I told you that the key to boosting user experience is actually doing less instead of more?
At first glance, this may sound counterintuitive. But think about it: when you visit a well-designed website, do you feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information and options? Or do you appreciate the simplicity and clarity of the layout and navigation?
In fact, research shows that too much choice can actually hinder decision-making and lead to dissatisfaction with the outcome. As author Barry Schwartz puts it, "The more options there are, the easier it is to regret anything at all that is disappointing about the option we chose."
Therefore, when it comes to website user experience, less can actually be more. By removing unnecessary clutter and focusing on the core features and content, you can create a more streamlined and effective website that is easier for users to navigate and interact with.
Of course, this doesn't mean that you should sacrifice functionality or aesthetics for the sake of minimalism. It simply means prioritizing the most important elements and making them stand out, while eliminating anything that doesn't add value or causes confusion.
In the following sections, we will explore a simple JavaScript technique that exemplifies this approach: adding an active class to open pages. By doing so, you can improve your website's navigation and make it clearer which page the user is currently on. This is just one example of how doing less can actually lead to better results in website design and user experience as a whole.
What is an Active Class?
Many web developers may already be familiar with the term "active class." But for those who aren't, an active class is a CSS class that is added to a link or button when it is clicked or the page it leads to is active. This simple technique can make a website's user experience much smoother and easier to navigate.
By adding an active class to links or buttons, users can easily see which page they are on and which links or buttons they have already clicked. This can prevent confusion and frustration when navigating a website, especially if it has a lot of pages or sections.
The code for adding an active class is relatively simple and straightforward. Here's an example:
/* CSS */
.active {
background-color: #f3f3f3;
}
/* JavaScript (JQuery) */
$(document).ready(function() {
var url = window.location;
$('ul.nav a[href="'+ url +'"]').parent().addClass('active');
});
In this example, the active class is added to a navigation menu item based on the current URL of the page. This way, users can easily see which page they are on and what other pages are available.
Overall, adding an active class to links or buttons is a small but effective way to improve a website's user experience. It's a simple technique that can make a big difference in how users navigate and interact with a website.
