A hamburger menu is any menu with primary navigation options hidden behind an icon. The most common icon is the hamburger icon represented by 3 horizontal lines.

Hamburger menus have some advantages. They save space by keeping many options tucked away, and they can easily accommodate submenus.

However, a major drawback is that they are less discoverable.^[1] While many mobile users recognize hamburger menus, not all intuitively open them, which can lead to lower engagement with hidden options.

Hamburger menus are best suited for content-heavy apps or browsing-focused experiences where users are less concerned with navigating to specific sections and more focused on exploring presented content.

If you use a hamburger menu, consider supplementing it with alternative navigation patterns, such as bottom navigation bars or tab bars. These solutions ensure essential navigation options remain visible and easily accessible, improving usability while keeping your app user-friendly.