What is a best practice for accessible navigation?

Keeping navigation consistent across pages is essential for creating an accessible web experience. When users encounter a consistent navigation structure, they can quickly become familiar with how to get around the site. This familiarity helps all users, particularly those with cognitive disabilities or who rely on assistive technologies, such as screen readers.

Consistency enables users to predict where links will be located and reassures them that they can find the same options on all pages, reducing confusion and enhancing usability. Familiar navigation patterns result in less cognitive load, allowing users to focus on the content and tasks at hand rather than figuring out how to navigate the site each time they load a new page.

In contrast, frequently changing the navigation style can disorient users, using only icons might limit comprehension for those unfamiliar with the symbols, and limiting navigation options could restrict users' ability to access important content. Hence, maintaining a consistent navigation system is a fundamental principle of web accessibility.