- Success Criterion 3.2.3
- Conformance level AA
3.2.3 · Consistent Navigation
Lesson overview · Consistent Navigation
In plain language
Repeated navigation must appear in the same order on every page.
Who it affects
People who navigate by memory and routine, including many with cognitive or low-vision needs.
How to check
Compare header/footer/menu order across several pages: same items, same order.
Common misconception
Reordering navigation for one page “because it makes more sense there” breaks the pattern users rely on. Consistency matters more than any single page's ideal order.
Learn more
Scenarios in this lesson
- Navigation Links Appearing in a Different Order on Each Page
- Header Menu Items Reshuffled Differently on Different Sections
- Footer Link Groups Ordered Differently Across Page Templates
- Search Box That Moves to a Different Spot on Every Page
- Breadcrumbs Present on Some Pages but Missing on Others
- Skip Link Appearing in a Different Order on Different Pages
- Mobile Navigation Order That’s Inconsistent With Itself
- Utility Bar Icons Swapping Position Between Pages