What is a Primary Menu in WordPress?
A Primary Menu is the main navigation tool selected as the primary menu in the WordPress Menu Editor. It serves as the backbone for your website’s structure, guiding your visitors through your content and helping them find what they’re looking for with ease.
The primary menu is typically displayed in the header section of a WordPress site, though it can also appear in other locations depending on the theme in use.
Multiple Navigational Menus in WordPress Themes
WordPress themes can support single or multiple navigational menus at different locations in the theme. This flexibility allows you to create custom menus tailored to your specific needs, such as a secondary menu in the footer area or a sidebar menu for specific pages or categories.
The possibilities are endless, and the choice is yours when it comes to designing your site’s navigation structure.
Editing Menus with the WordPress Menu Editor
The built-in WordPress Menu Editor, located at Appearance » Menu, is the go-to tool for creating and managing your site’s menus.
Whether you’re adding new pages, customizing menu items, or rearranging the menu structure, the Menu Editor provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface to help you get the job done.
Default Menu Items in WordPress Themes
If you do not edit the menus, most themes list pages as the default menu items. While this may work for some websites, it’s essential to customize your primary menu to reflect your site’s content and structure better.
A well-organized primary menu will not only improve your site’s user experience but also contribute to its overall aesthetic appeal.
Primary Menu: Supporting Multiple Menus on a Site
The primary menu allows themes to use more than one menu on a site, such as one in the header and one in the footer.
This functionality enables you to create different navigation structures for different sections of your website, catering to the unique needs of your content and audience.
Saving and Switching Between Menus
One of the powerful features of the WordPress Menu Editor is the ability to save menus and switch between the menus you have created.
This feature enables you to experiment with different menu structures and designs without losing your previous work, making it easy to test and refine your site’s navigation.
Primary Menu in WordPress.com Sites
The primary menu is built into every WordPress.com site and does not require visiting WordPress.com itself.
This means that even if you’re using a self-hosted WordPress installation, you can still take advantage of the robust primary menu features offered by the platform.
Crafting the Perfect Primary Menu: Tips and Best Practices
Now that we have a solid understanding of what a primary menu in WordPress is and its various features, let’s explore some tips and best practices for creating an effective primary menu for your website.
Keep It Simple and Intuitive
Your primary menu should be easy to understand and navigate for your visitors. Avoid using overly technical terms or jargon, and opt for clear, concise menu labels that accurately represent the content they link to.
Limit the Number of Menu Items
Too many menu items can overwhelm search engine crawlers and visitors, making it difficult for them to find what they’re looking for. Aim for a balance between providing enough options for your users and maintaining a clean, uncluttered menu.
Use Dropdown Menus Wisely
Dropdown menus can be useful for organizing your content into subcategories. However, use them sparingly and ensure that they are easy to navigate on both desktop and mobile devices.
Prioritize Important Content
Place the most important content and pages in your primary menu, ensuring that your visitors can access them quickly and easily.