Web Terminology: Flyout Menu…
What is a flyout menu?
According to Eggert & Abou-Zahra on Web Accessibility Tutorials website (2015), a flyout menu, also called a dropdown menu, is a hierarchical tool used to concise the alignment of a website. It is arranged to show one menu option at a time and expands as the user clicks on it. Each menu option either narrows the users’ choice or directly transfers the user to the webpage they want. Not only does it save time for the user but also is a great tool for web/UX designers to structure their website hierarchy.
Application of flyout menus in real life…
Development of a large website portrays an effective use of this tool. For example, puregrips.com structures its products into different categories and subsections them into specific product links. For instance, when a user clicks on the ‘shop’ icon, the menu drops downs into three variable choices, ‘Full Swing Grips’, ‘Putter Grips’ and ‘Accessories’. These are further divided into a horizontal dropdown format. In the ‘Full Swing Grips’ category, the subsections are ‘PURE Pro’, ‘PURE DTX’ and ‘PURE Wrap’. Therefore, each category under the main menu bar is divided into subcategories and is linked by a webpage that easily directs the user to the exact product they are looking for.
What is the importance of flyout menu to web/UX designers?
A flyout menu helps businesses to establish a smooth and easy transition on their website. It structures the content with a clear and organized layout. It also establishes the alignment and hierarchy of a webpage and helps consistently consolidate the data. Being findable and accessible, users can easily reach the product without being lost on the website. Therefore, it aids web/UX designers to create a user experience that is usable, desirable, findable and accessible.
Summary
- A flyout menu is a hierarchical tool used to concise the alignment of a website.
- It is arranged to show one menu option at a time and expands as the user clicks on it. Each menu option either narrows the users’ choice or directly refers to the user to the webpage they want.
- Development of a large website portrays an effective use of this tool. This tool is used by diverse websites such as e-commerce, college websites etc. to consolidate the data of their product.
- Flyout menu helps businesses to establish a smooth and easy transition in their website. It structures the content with a clear and organized layout, establishes the alignment and hierarchy of a webpage and helps consistently consolidate the data.
- Being findable and accessible, users can easily reach the product without being lost on the website. Therefore, it aids web/UX designers to create a user experience that is usable, desirable, findable and accessible.
References
Flyout Menus. Max Mega Menu. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.megamenu.com/documentation/flyout-menus/
Andrea. E. (2012). Dropdown vs Flyout vs Dropline vs Mega vs Accordion Menus. OS Training. Retrieved from https://www.ostraining.com/blog/webdesign/different-types-of-multi-level-menu/
Eggert. E. & Abou- Zahra. S. (2015). Fly-out Menus. Web Accessibility Tutorials. Retrieved from https://www.w3.org/WAI/tutorials/menus/flyout/