Projects/Usability/HIG/Patterns/NavigationPatterns: Difference between revisions

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==Purpose==
{{ Moved To Community | KDE_Visual_Design_Group/HIG/Patterns/NavigationPatterns }}
Navigation Patterns depend on the structure of the application content. Navigation patterns can be combined with [[../CommandPatterns|command patterns]] and content patterns to design the complete layout for your application.
 
==Patterns for desktop user interfaces==
 
===Patterns for a flat content structure===
[[File:IS-flat.png]]
 
When pieces of application content are not grouped, the content structure is flat.
* Examples include a playlist, a slideshow or a list of documents or contacts.
 
 
'''SIngle item'''
 
[[File:NP-flat-1b.png]]
 
* These patterns are useful when each piece of content is meant to be shown one at a time.
* Controls are usually provided to allow the user to move from one piece of content to the next.
* Examples include a slideshow, or a video or music playlist, or a single-page web browser.
 
 
'''Multiple items'''
 
[[File:NP-flat-2.png]]
 
* These patterns are useful when multiple pieces of content are intended to be shown at once.
* All essential information about each piece of content is visible or accessible within the pattern without changing layout.
* If more space is needed to show the details of the selected item consider the Master-Detail patterns.
 
 
'''Master-Detail'''
 
[[File:NP-flat-3a.png]]
 
* These patterns are useful when multiple pieces of content are intended to be shown at once, alongside a larger, more complete presentation of the selected item.
* See the [[../../Layout/Wizard|Wizard]] pattern guidelines for more details on using that pattern.
* Examples include a contact list that shows the full details of the selected contact, a slideshow with a "film-strip" to select photographs, or setup for newly installed software
 
===Patterns for a 2-deep content structure===
[[File:IS-2-deep.png]]
 
When all application content are grouped into top-level categories, the content structure is 2-deep.
* Examples include picture albums, music albums, email folders or tags.
 
 
'''Combination patterns'''
 
[[File:NP-2-deep-2.png]]
 
* Any two flat navigation patterns could be combined to create a 2-deep navigation pattern. However, to maintain visual consistency across applications we recommend always starting with the List-Detail pattern. A few examples are shown above.
 
 
'''Unique 2-deep patterns'''
 
[[File:NP-2-deep-1a.png]]
 
* The Collapsible List pattern is a space-efficient way of showing 2-deep content. This pattern is useful for plasmoids and applications where the layout must be compact. A [[../../TreeView|TreeView]] can be used to implement this pattern.
* The Crossbar pattern arranges categories vertically and the content within the selected category horizontally. This pattern is often used for navigating video libraries.
 
===Patterns for a 3-deep content structure===
 
[[File:IS-3-deep.png]]
 
When all application content are grouped into categories, which are themselves be grouped into top-level categories, the content structure is 3-deep.
 
* Content structures this deep should generally be avoided.
* There are instances, however, where it may be difficult to avoid.
* Examples include a full music or video library or system settings.
 
 
'''Combination patterns'''
 
[[File:NP-3-deep.png]]
 
* As before, navigation patterns could be combined to create a 3-deep navigation pattern. However, to maintain consistency across applications, we recommend always starting with a List-Detail pattern with a Collapsible List. A few examples are shown above.
 
===Patterns for n-deep content structures===
[[File:IS-n-deep.png]]
 
When content is infinitely groupable, the content is n-deep.
 
* Content structures this deep should be avoided. It is very difficult for the user to maintain awareness of their location in content structure relative to other content.
* There are instances, however, where this structure cannot be avoided.
* Examples include file systems and archives.
 
 
'''Breadcrumb patterns'''
 
[[File:NP-n-deep.png]]
 
* These patterns provide awareness of the path within the content structure.
* Interaction is usually required to determine location relative to adjacent content on the previous level.
* The pattern may also be applied to 2-deep and 3-deep content structures.
 
== Patterns for phone user interfaces ==
 
===Patterns for a flat content structure===
 
<span style="color:red">TODO: Wireframe</span>
 
When pieces of application content are not grouped, the content structure is flat.
* Examples include a playlist, a slideshow or a list of documents or contacts.
 
 
'''SIngle item'''
 
<span style="color:red">TODO: Wireframe: Media controls, Object with properties below, Object with properties in side-panel</span>
 
* These patterns are useful when each piece of content is meant to be shown one at a time.
* For media (dis)play, whether playback controls are shown depends on the type of media:
** For audio, always show playback controls
** For video, show playback controls only on tap (pausing the video)
* For image galleries as well as playlists, use left/right swipe to switch between files to (dis)play
* Display properties of the currently shown object which are essential for the application's main task below the object, show additional properties on demand in the [[../CommandPatterns/ContextPanel|Context Panel]]
 
 
'''List'''
 
<span style="color:red">TODO: Wireframe: List</span>
 
* The list pattern is useful when multiple pieces of content are intended to be shown at once.
* All essential information about each piece of content is visible or accessible within the list without changing layout.
* If list items may be longer than one quarter of the list height, consider using an expandable list
 
 
'''Expandable list ''
 
<span style="color:red">TODO: Wireframe: Expandable list</span>
 
* The collapsible list is useful when additional details for individual elements in a list/group are to be shown alongside the other elements in the list
* For example, use the expandable list pattern for a list of  emails in a thread to allow the user to show long individual mails in full while retaining easy navigation through the whole thread
* Make only list items that are higher than 1/4 of the visible list height expandable
* Tapping a list element once expands it, tapping it again collapses it
 
 
'''List + detail view'''
 
<span style="color:red">TODO: Wireframe</span>
 
* The list + detail view pattern is useful when the user usually focuses on a single item in the list.
* Tapping an item in the list shows its details in a new view
* Use swipe left to go back to the list
* Use a swipe beyond the top/bottom of the content to jump to the previous/next item in the list
 
=== Patterns for a hierarchical structure ===
 
'''Column-based navigation'''
 
<span style="color:red">TODO: Wireframe</span>
 
* Use this pattern if there is a hierarchy of lists (e.g. Accounts -> Folders -> (Sub-Folders) -> Mails -> Invidual mail; Folders -> RSS Feeds -> Feed items -> Individual item, or the folder hierarchy of a file system).
* Swiping left/right navigates one hierarchy level up/down
* When on the lowest level, showing the content of an individual list item, use a swipe beyond the top/bottom of the content to jump to the previous/next item in the list

Latest revision as of 11:26, 4 August 2016

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