Finding Your Way
Navigation is the skeleton of your application. If it's broken, the body can't move. In modern SaaS, we see two dominant patterns: the top-heavy Mega Menu for marketing sites, and the Sidebar Navigation for web applications.
The Mega Menu
For marketing sites with complex product suites (think Stripe or Vercel), a simple dropdown isn't enough. You need a Mega Menu.
Why it works:
- Categorization: You can group links by "Products", "Solutions", "Developers", etc.
- Visual Cues: Including icons or small descriptions helps users scan faster.
- Promotions: You can include a "Featured" card inside the menu to drive traffic to a new blog post or webinar.
The Sidebar Navigation
Once a user logs in, the context changes. They need quick access to tools, not marketing copy. The Sidebar Navigation is the standard here.
- Vertical Scanning: It's easier to scan a long list of items vertically.
- Expandable Groups: "Settings" can expand to reveal "Profile", "Billing", "Team", keeping the top-level clean.
- Collapsible: On smaller screens, the sidebar can collapse to icons-only, maximizing workspace.
Mobile Considerations
The "Hamburger Menu" is still king on mobile, but how it opens matters. A full-screen overlay that prevents background scrolling is often the best experience. It provides a focused environment for the user to decide where to go next.
Sticky Headers
Should your navbar stick? Generally, yes. Keeping the navigation accessible at all times reduces the friction of moving between pages. However, consider shrinking the navbar or hiding secondary elements when scrolling down to maximize screen real estate.
Conclusion
Good navigation is invisible. Users shouldn't have to think about how to get somewhere. Whether you choose a mega menu or a sidebar, the goal is the same: intuitive, predictable access to information.