Breadcrumbs in web design should reflect the website's structure, not users' browsing history.^[1] Their purpose is to show the levels of the website hierarchy that users have navigated through, like a map showing the main routes, not every single step taken. Including every page users have visited in the breadcrumb trail can make it overly complex and visually messy.

Also, limit breadcrumbs to key levels of the site, such as main sections or categories, known as ancestor pages. If a particular subcategory or item doesn’t have its own dedicated page, it shouldn’t be part of the breadcrumb trail. This keeps the breadcrumbs focused and useful, helping users understand where they are in the site’s structure without unnecessary details.