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Depending on the action performed, dialog-based navigation can represent vertical navigation (to a deeper level) or horizontal navigation (to the next step in a flow).
Best Practices
Balance context-adaptivity and consistency
Local Navigation should reflect the user’s current dashboard, task, and information architecture. Avoid reusing navigation structures that don’t match the local workflow, and keep the available options relevant to what users can do from this area.
While Local Navigation can vary between dashboards, patterns should remain consistent within the same application area. Use the same placement, interaction model, and naming conventions so users can predict how navigation works.
Keep it simple
Use Local Navigation sparingly and avoid duplicating Global Navigation. If users need to jump between dashboards or products, that belongs in Global Navigation—not local structures.
Prefer clear groupings over long flat lists, and avoid deep trees. If a structure becomes hard to scan, add grouping, shorten labels, or introduce search and shortcuts instead of adding more nesting.
The right surface for the job
Use a Navigation Boardlet for persistent cross-section navigation within an area. Use breadcrumbs primarily for orientation and moving up a hierarchy. Use in-content navigation actions for step-based flows or drilldowns where users need to act and then move forward.
Navigation inside processes
Do not navigate users directly into the middle of a process or conditional content. Local navigation should route to process entry points or overviews. Step-to-step movement belongs inside the process UI (for example, Next/Back actions).
Drilldown destinations should include a reliable “Back” option or a clear breadcrumb path. Dialog-based navigation should always include an explicit way to return to the current page without progressing.
Language
Use user-facing language, keep titles concise, and match labels with page titles. Avoid internal jargon, and ensure similar destinations have distinguishable names.
