Wayfinding elements

Navigation cues help users understand their current location and available paths through an app's content hierarchy.

Visual elements guide user orientation

• Breadcrumbs show the navigation path
• Selected states highlight the current location
• Back buttons indicate previous views
• Section titles confirm the current context
• Progress indicators show navigation depth

Wayfinding becomes essential when apps contain deep hierarchies or complex navigation paths, like Dropbox which shows folder paths clearly at each level.

Clear wayfinding prevents disorientation and reduces cognitive load. Users should always understand where they are, how they got there, and how to move forward or back through content.