Show visitors which page they are viewing

What to change

Ask the supplier to distinguish the current page from its broader section using more than a subtle colour change, including when visitors arrive directly.

A worked example

Illustrative example

A visitor on a branch detail page can identify that page in the local navigation while still understanding that it belongs to Locations.

Healthcare website design showing connected desktop and mobile service and enquiry layouts. — Make the service and next step clear on every screen.

Healthcare website accessibility illustrated by a focus outline, keyboard key, contrast samples and form. — Review keyboard access, contrast and understandable form fields.

Why this matters to your practice

Location cues help people move confidently around a practice website with several services or branches. A highlighted item should identify the page being viewed, while broader section information can provide useful context separately. Ask your supplier to show a page opened directly from a shared link, not only one reached through the menu. The visitor should receive the same clear orientation. Use wording and visible markers that remain understandable when colour differences are difficult to distinguish.

How to check the result

Accept when the current destination is correct and recognisable regardless of arrival route, screen size or reliance on colour.

A mistake to avoid

Marking every ancestor as the current page creates contradictory cues even if each one belongs to the same section.

Turn reading into a next step

Your action checklist

Work through these checks with your team or supplier. Tick the ones you have resolved and leave unknowns open.

Checks to discussOpen a section overview and one of its child pages. Compare the highlighted items and check that the actual destination is distinguishable from its parent section.Ask your supplier to demonstrate this check with you: inspect the navigation with colour differences reduced or unavailable. Ask how a screen reader (software that reads the page aloud) identifies the current destination within the menu.Repeat on a page reached directly from an external link. The state should follow the page itself, not depend on the visitor having clicked through the menu.

Your answers and notes

Record what you know, what is still missing and the answer you need from your team or supplier.

What happens next, and who will do it?

Use project decisions only, without personal, patient or confidential details. Entries stay in this page and are not submitted to Kay & Co. Copy or download before leaving; this page does not save your notes.

Related guides

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