A tutorial and practical guide site only fulfills its role if each visitor can find the section they are looking for within seconds. On Trop Facile, the question arises concretely: how to switch from a guide on Windows to a course on image editing without wasting time or missing a section? The answer lies in how the navigation paths are organized and how they are utilized.
Site map and main menu: two navigation logics compared
On most educational platforms, the main menu and the site map coexist without visitors really knowing when to use one rather than the other. Their functioning meets distinct needs.
| Criterion | Main Menu | Site Map |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Visible at all times (header or hamburger menu on mobile) | Dedicated page, accessible via the footer or an internal link |
| Depth | Displays top-level categories, sometimes a sub-menu | Lists all pages and sub-sections |
| Main Usage | Common navigation between major sections | Targeted search for a specific page or exhaustive exploration |
| WCAG 2.1 Compliance (SC 2.4.5) | Counts as the primary means of navigation | Counts as the secondary means of navigation |
The WCAG 2.1 standard requires that a user can reach a page through at least two different navigation systems. The menu alone is not enough: a site map, a search bar, or contextual links between pages constitute the second required path.
Consulting all sections of Trop Facile allows you to visualize all available topics at a glance, including those that do not appear directly in the main menu.
Navigation paths on Trop Facile: what the menu does not show
The horizontal or vertical menu of a site rarely displays more than five to eight entries. This is an ergonomic choice: beyond that, the user takes longer to spot the section they are looking for. On a site like Trop Facile, which covers topics as varied as office automation, IT security, or the use of online tools, this structural limit hides part of the content.
The site map fills this gap. It functions like a book’s table of contents: each section is listed with its exact title, grouped by theme. For a visitor who knows what they are looking for, it is the most direct path.
When to prioritize the site map
- When the topic searched does not correspond to any visible entry in the menu (for example, a guide on file extensions or on the Windows CMD terminal)
- When exploring the site for the first time and wanting to gauge the extent of available resources
- If navigation on a mobile screen makes sub-menus difficult to unfold, the site map offers a flat view, without additional interaction
On the other hand, to switch from one main section to another (from “Office Automation” to “Security,” for example), the menu remains faster since it is accessible from any page.
Accessibility and navigation: what the European Accessibility Act changes in 2025
Since June 28, 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EU directive 2019/882) imposes enhanced accessibility requirements on European digital sites and services. For an educational site, this translates into concrete obligations regarding the navigation structure.
The SC 2.4.5 criterion of the WCAG 2.1 standard, already mentioned, takes on a regulatory dimension: each “non-process” page must remain findable even if the main menu is disabled. A site map, a search bar, or persistent internal links between pages must ensure this redundancy.
Navigation by landmarks and heading structure
Assistive technologies (screen readers, keyboard navigation) rely on HTML landmarks to navigate within a page. A well-structured site uses semantic tags (nav, main, aside, footer) that allow users to jump directly from one area to another.
On Trop Facile, the hierarchy of headings plays a role comparable to the scale of a page: level 2 headings delineate major sections, while level 3 headings mark sub-parts. A screen reader user can thus move from heading to heading to browse the content without reading each paragraph.
Contextual links and cross-navigation between sections
Beyond the menu and the site map, a third mechanism facilitates movement between content: contextual links. These are links placed within articles or guides that refer to another section of the site related to the topic being discussed.
This type of navigation offers an advantage that the other two do not: it suggests a logical path suited to the topic being read. A guide on installing software may link to an article on managing compressed files, for example.
- Contextual links reduce the number of clicks needed to move from one related topic to another
- They enhance compliance with the WCAG 2.4.5 criterion by providing an additional navigation path
- They help search engines understand the relationships between the pages of the site
To remain useful, these links must have an explicit title. A link saying “click here” gives no indication of the destination. A link whose anchor describes the target content allows the user to make an informed decision.
Mobile navigation: screen constraints and practical solutions
On a phone screen, the horizontal menu transforms into a hamburger menu (three horizontal bars). This compact format saves space but adds an interaction: you must tap the icon to see the sections, then tap again to access a sub-level.
The site map bypasses this friction. Displayed as a standard page, it requires no unfolding of sub-menus. On mobile, the site map is often the shortest path to a specific section, provided you know it exists.
Most sites place the link to their site map in the footer. This is an old web convention, but it assumes the user scrolls to the bottom of the page. Placing a secondary access in the main menu or in a help banner improves the discoverability of this resource.
Navigation on an educational content site relies on the complementarity of several paths, not on a single tool. The menu covers common movements, the site map offers a complete view, and contextual links weave bridges between topics. Using all three, according to the need of the moment, remains the most reliable method to access any section without detours.
