Bottom Navigation vs Hamburger Menu
Developers should implement Bottom Navigation when building mobile apps (especially for iOS and Android) that require frequent switching between a few core sections, as it improves user experience by reducing navigation effort and increasing discoverability meets developers should implement a hamburger menu when designing for mobile-first or responsive websites where screen real estate is limited, as it efficiently hides navigation elements until needed. Here's our take.
Bottom Navigation
Developers should implement Bottom Navigation when building mobile apps (especially for iOS and Android) that require frequent switching between a few core sections, as it improves user experience by reducing navigation effort and increasing discoverability
Bottom Navigation
Nice PickDevelopers should implement Bottom Navigation when building mobile apps (especially for iOS and Android) that require frequent switching between a few core sections, as it improves user experience by reducing navigation effort and increasing discoverability
Pros
- +It's particularly useful for apps with a flat information architecture, such as social media platforms, e-commerce apps, or productivity tools, where users need constant access to main features without deep hierarchical menus
- +Related to: material-design, ios-human-interface-guidelines
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
Hamburger Menu
Developers should implement a hamburger menu when designing for mobile-first or responsive websites where screen real estate is limited, as it efficiently hides navigation elements until needed
Pros
- +It is particularly useful for complex sites with many sections, such as e-commerce platforms or news apps, to improve usability and aesthetics
- +Related to: responsive-design, user-interface-design
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
The Verdict
Use Bottom Navigation if: You want it's particularly useful for apps with a flat information architecture, such as social media platforms, e-commerce apps, or productivity tools, where users need constant access to main features without deep hierarchical menus and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.
Use Hamburger Menu if: You prioritize it is particularly useful for complex sites with many sections, such as e-commerce platforms or news apps, to improve usability and aesthetics over what Bottom Navigation offers.
Developers should implement Bottom Navigation when building mobile apps (especially for iOS and Android) that require frequent switching between a few core sections, as it improves user experience by reducing navigation effort and increasing discoverability
Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev