What is Hamburger Menu?
ELI5 — The Simple Version
Imagine you're at your favorite ice cream shop. Instead of seeing all the flavors right away, there's a small sign with three lines stacked like a sandwich. This sign says, 'Tap here for flavors!' You tap it, and a hidden menu unfolds with all the yummy options. That's what a hamburger menu does on a website. It's like a secret drawer that keeps things tidy and organized, especially when space is tight, like on your phone. But here's the catch: if you don't see the sign, you might miss out on some flavors. This is why some people say hamburger menus can hide important stuff you might want to find quickly. So, why does this matter? Well, if you're building a website, especially one meant to get people to click on things or buy something, you want to make sure they can see what you offer easily. A hidden menu might keep things neat, but it can also keep visitors from finding what they need right away.
Technical Deep Dive
Definition
A hamburger menu is a graphical user interface element, usually shown as three horizontal lines. It hides navigation links or options behind a single icon, which expands when clicked or tapped, revealing the menu items.
How It Works
- 1.The hamburger icon is placed on a webpage, typically in a corner.
- 2.When a user clicks or taps the icon, the menu items are revealed in an overlay or a sidebar.
- 3.Users can navigate to different sections of the site by selecting from the menu items.
- 4.The menu can be closed by clicking the icon again or selecting an option.
Key Characteristics
- Space-saving: Ideal for mobile interfaces where screen space is limited.
- Minimalist design: Reduces visual clutter by hiding navigation options until needed.
- Interaction required: Users must click or tap to access the menu.
Comparison
| Aspect | Hamburger Menu | Traditional Navbar |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Hidden by default | Always visible |
| Space Efficiency | High | Low |
| User Interaction | Requires click/tap | Immediate access |
| Discoverability | Lower | Higher |
Real-World Example
Facebook's mobile app uses a hamburger menu to hide less frequently accessed settings and options. A/B testing by VWO on mobile sites has shown a decrease in conversion rates when key CTAs are hidden in hamburger menus.
Best Practices
- Use sparingly, primarily on mobile where space is limited.
- Ensure key actions and CTAs remain visible outside of the hamburger menu.
- Consider alternatives like bottom navigation bars for essential links.
- Test using tools like Google Optimize to measure impact on user behavior.
Common Misconceptions
- Hamburger menus are always bad for conversions: While they can hide content, strategic use can keep interfaces clean.
- They replace all navigation needs: Best used alongside other navigation options.
- They're only for mobile: Desktop designs can use them, but with caution.