In search of a name…
Dec 1

In search of a name…

I’m curious if anyone can articulate a standard name for the very top navigation on a Web site.  Not the main, content-based navigation, but the stuff at the tippy-top of the page, usually on the right.

The most common things you see here are:

  • “Contact Us”
  • “Log In”
  • A search box
  • A language selector

Over the years, I’ve seen a bunch of different names for this:

  • “Utilities” or “Utility Menu” (Adaptive Path calls it this)
  • “Static Nav”
  • “Tools”
  • “Eyebrow Nav” (just heard this one today, which is got me thinking about it)
  • “Global Nav” (I maintain this should refer to the main, content-based nav)
  • “Overhead Nav”
  • “Top Nav”

Anyone want to toss another name out, or make some impassionate defense/condemnation of something listed here?

Update: Other possible names from the comments on this post:

  • “Corner Nav” (someone uses this in CSS, so perhaps it’s not a name so much)
  • “Constant Nav”
  • “Tertiary Nav” (I have specific issue with this, since the content-based nav will likely have a tertiary level)

Another update:  I put a question out on the IAI group in LinkedIn.  “Utility Nav” was pretty popular with that group.  Someone mentioned “Settings Bar” or “Admin Bar.”

by Deane   December 1, 2009 12:04 AM    |   Follow Gadgetopia on Twitter

Comments

by Chris Prendergast,   December 1, 2009 12:13 AM  

I always call it "cornernav" or "cornerbox" in my HTML/CSS. It's not always in the corner, but I just got in the (bad) habit of using that id name and I can't shake it.

by Brent Hardinge,   December 1, 2009 12:31 AM  

I've always used "Utilities" or "Utility Nav".

by Kyle Heon,   December 1, 2009 6:00 AM  

Where I work we used to call it "constant nav" but now we use "utility nav". Another option could be "tertiary nav".

by Patrick,   December 1, 2009 8:31 AM  

"Utility Nav"

by Andreea,   December 1, 2009 4:23 PM  

"top links"

by Jake Leggett,   December 1, 2009 8:25 PM  

Just to add a few more possible names: NavStrip or NavigationStrip NavRibbon Microsoft uses tabstrip

by Fernando Pizzani,   December 1, 2009 9:32 PM  

I prefer to call utililityNavBar, tertiary seems to suggest Level3 navBar

by Eugenio Grigolon,   December 2, 2009 6:32 AM  

I probably call it "utility navigation" as well.

by Jack,   December 2, 2009 7:34 AM  

I call it utility bar, or utility menu; I tend not to call it navigation because not all items there are for navigation; there are some functional operations, such as sign in, sign out, search, email, etc.

by Corey V.,   December 2, 2009 8:05 AM  

I was absolutely behind "Admin Bar," except that the search box has as much to do with the user as it does with the administrator.

Why wouldn't someone call it a "Toolbox?" Or is that too back-end?

by Tim S.,   December 2, 2009 12:51 PM  

I usually call it the "Top Navigation" but I like now that I've hear of "Utility Nav" I'll probably start using that.

Also, that's the first time I've heard Deane use the term "tippy-top" - well played Deane!

by Shelly Dahn,   December 2, 2009 6:21 PM  

I call it the Utility Nav because it's organized by function, not location. Tertiary navigation, to me, is located three levels in as you drill down in content. But none of the answers are wrong.

I think what matters most is that terms are defined and everyone on the team uses them consistently. When working with your client, give them an overview of your terminology before you start talking about the project. A wire frame with terms called out is a great tool for your them (and maybe the whole team). This way no one feels stupid.

Sorry to be so wordy.

by Dominic Cronin,   December 7, 2009 8:59 AM  

I usually call it the "corporate" nav, as it's usually everywhere on a given organisation's web properties. I also say "top nav" quite a lot, but it depends on the site in question.

An Eyebrow is something else. It's what less pedantic people call the breadcrumbs. (And most of us have seen the fall-out from an over-literal reading of the term "breadcrumbs" at one time or another, so perhaps the pedantry is forgivable.) Isn't Eyebrow microsoft-eze?

by Rosemary,   January 5, 2010 7:57 PM  

Depending on what's there I either call it the Call-to-Action menu or the User Menu. And the main menu then get's called the Content Menu or Main Menu.

by KVB,   July 8, 2011 12:42 PM  

I heard someone else call it "Convenience nav." i like that.

Add Comment