Site maps

A site map (also known as ‘flow diagram’, ‘process map’, and ‘site architecture map’) provides the overall structure and organisation of a website or application. They are useful because they can lay out the information architecture of a site/application and provide the framework upon which to base site/application navigation.

Site maps should be produced during the analysis and design phases of site/application development or re-development as they provide the information and interaction blueprint.

Site maps are produced as diagrammatical representations of the flow or structure of a site/application. Using a tool like Visio, the UX Consultant maps out the structure of the site.

When done as a part of the information architecture, rather than providing a navigation structure, the site map highlights how the user will flow through defined tasks, identifying the individual steps in the task.

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