WordPress Navigation: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

WordPress is the top dog in the world of content management systems (CMS), and it makes website creation a breeze. When it comes to website management, one of the most critical aspects is navigation, which helps site visitors move around with ease. Navigation comprises menus, links, pages, and categories, among other essentials. In this article, we delve into the best ways to edit navigation in WordPress.

Understand WordPress Navigation

Before we dive into how to edit navigation, it’s essential to understand what comprises WordPress navigation. Below are some basics:

Menus

Menus feature lists of links, aka menu items, and usually appear in the header or footer of a website. WordPress automatically generates a default menu structure that comprises custom links, categories, and pages.

Categories

Categories are essential in grouping posts with shared themes, and they come in handy in the site’s navigation menu as links to specific posts.

Pages

Pages display static content meant to provide pertinent information such as Contact and About Us pages. They also serve as links in the site’s navigation menu.

Customize the Menu Structure

Customizing the site’s menu system gives WordPress users total control over their website’s navigation menus. Below is a breakdown of the steps you can take to achieve this:

1. Access the Menu Editor

To edit your site’s navigation menu, start by navigating to Appearance before selecting Menus.

2. Create a New Menu

To create a new menu, click on “create a new menu.” Give the menu a name and click on “Create Menu.”

3. Add Items to the Menu

Next up is the addition of menu items. To achieve this, click on the checkbox of the items you want to add and click on the “add to menu” button.

4. Rearrange Menu Items

If you want to rearrange menu items, it’s as easy as dragging and dropping them to where you want them to be.

5. Create Sub-Menus

To create sub-menus, drag the menu item to the right of the parent item so that it “nests” beneath the parent item.

6. Save the Menu

Once you’re done customizing the menu, click on “save menu.”

Adding and Removing Pages or Categories from the Navigation Menus

WordPress allows for the easy addition or removal of pages or categories with ease. To achieve this, follow these simple steps:

1. Access the Menu Editor

To start, navigate to Appearance and select Menus to access the menu editor.

2. Add Pages or Categories to the Menu

To add pages or categories to the menu, select the name of the page or category you wish to integrate from the left-hand side of the screen and click “Add to Menu.”

3. Remove Pages or Categories from the Menu

Removing a page or category from the menu is as easy as clicking on the arrow to expand the menu item before clicking the “Remove” link.

Utilizing Plugins to Enhance Navigation Functionalities

WordPress makes it all too easy to enhance the navigation functionalities of your website using the numerous available plugins. For example:

a. UberMenu

UberMenu is an excellent plugin for creating custom menus that feature images, maps, and multimedia. It’s perfect for generating mega menus, i.e., extensive menus with multiple sub-menus.

b. WP Mobile Menu

The WP Mobile Menu is targeted at optimizing navigation for mobile devices. It allows developing a mobile-friendly navigation menu optimized for smartphones and tablets.

c. Max Mega Menu

Lastly, the Max Mega Menu plugin enables the creation of custom menus featuring drop-down sub-menus, themes, and widget areas, giving your website a unique appearance.

Conclusion

Navigation is a critical aspect of your website, and WordPress offers numerous options to address this, including, but not limited to, customizing the menu structure, adding and removing pages or categories from the navigation menus, and using plugins to enhance navigation functionalities. By following the steps outlined in this article, you’ll have no issues editing navigation in WordPress and improving the experience of your site visitors.