Website structure is another term for website architecture. The website structure refers to the blueprint of all the web pages on the website. It is a high-level view of all web pages that are connected to a website. When your website is structured well everything becomes easy whether it’s a user or a search engine.
Types of Website Structure
- The most often-used layout of a website is the hierarchical structure in which pages get arranged from the top, downwards. This means site pages will be like this (Homepage → Categories → Subcategories → Individual Pages).
- Linear structure is a step-by-step path ideal for basic sites or tutorials.
- Web (Network) website structure is the one where extensive interlinking of the pages is done, as seen in large-size content-heavy sites like Wikipedia.
Dynamic website structure refers to one that is organized based on filters, search bars, tags, etc.
Why Website Structure Matters
- User Experience (UX) involves logical structure, organized structure, and making it easy for visitors to find information easily. Using a well-organized site can boost user engagement and repeat visits.
- Website structure is a ranking factor of SEO benefits. Structured websites allow crawlers to easily explore their pages and contents. Internal links also transfer ranking authority to important pages.
- A well-planned site structure minimizes navigation paths and unnecessary redirects to help optimize the page speeds of all key pages of the site.
When a website is properly structured, not only does it make it easy for the user to use the website, but also influences search rankings.