Module 2 - Site Structure Map

Module 2 - Analyzing and Designing a Web Site

Site Structure Map

The web site structure map is simply a visual way to look at the architecture of a web site. Much like an organization chart, the structure map lets the designer visualize what content is included in the web site, and what path users will follow to reach it. Ideally, you want to have the most important content easily available from the Home page – what is typically referred to as “one click” away. Information that is less important to the users of the site can be sub pages of other pages – maybe two or three clicks into your site.

Here is an example of a structure map for the online proposal site we will be working on:

Notice how the Home Page is listed at the top, much like the President of an organization would be listed at the top of an organization chart. Below that are three sections. These three sections would be accessed by links on the Home Page. These 3 pages are the “second level” pages. This simply means, you need to make a choice on the first level (the Home Page) to reach them. In this structure map, notice we also have third level pages – the Internet and Non-Internet sources from the Bibliography. To reach the third level pages, you would need click the link on the Home Page that goes to the Bibliography page, then a link from the Bibliography page that goes to the Internet or Non-Internet pages. The farther down in the structure map, then the more clicks the user has to make to reach the content. So, you want your more important content in the higher level pages, less important content on lower level pages.

Creating Research-Based Web Sites with Netscape Composer

Module 2 - Analyzing and Designing a Web Site

Site Structure Map

Module 2 Topics