HTML Breadcrumb Navigation Markup

Breadcrumbs show the path from the homepage through sections to the current page. An ordered list matches that hierarchy naturally. The important question is always where the link leads and whether the person reading the page can predict it.

What You Need to Know

Use aria-current="page" on the current location. The current page may be plain text rather than a link to itself.

Links are the pathways through a website. The words on a link should help someone choose where to go before clicking it.

Example: See It in Action

Try this markup in a fresh practice file. The next section explains the parts worth paying attention to.

This is a short HTML fragment. To try it as a webpage, put it inside the body element of a complete HTML document.

<nav aria-label="Breadcrumb">
    <ol>
        <li><a href="index.html">Home</a>
        </li>
        <li><a href="lessons.html">Lessons</a>
        </li>
        <li aria-current="page">HTML Basics</li>
    </ol>
</nav>

Let’s Understand the Example

• An a element becomes a working link when it has an href. Its visible text should tell readers where they will go.
• Nav identifies a major collection of navigation links.
• Ol groups items whose order or numbering matters.
• Aria-label supplies an accessible name when a visible label is unavailable or inadequate.
• Href contains the destination of a link. A value starting with # points to an id on the same page.
• Aria-current identifies the current item in a set, such as the current page in navigation.

The first example link points to index.html. Check whether that destination exists relative to the document. A link changes where readers go; it does not perform an action such as saving a form.

What Should You See?

You should see a link named “Home”. Selecting it leads to index.html when that destination exists. Try it with the mouse and the keyboard.

Imagine this link is read out of context. Would its text still explain the destination? Rename unclear links before trying to make them look nicer with CSS.

Try It Yourself

1. Add one extra category between Home and the current lesson.
2. Save your changes, open or refresh the page, and compare the result with the original example.
3. Tell a friend what your change did. If you are not sure, undo it, refresh the page, and compare.

Common Beginner Mistakes

• Showing breadcrumbs as separators without clear link labels or current-page state.
• Avoid dead links, empty href values and clickable-looking text without a real destination.

Key Takeaways

• Breadcrumbs show the path from the homepage through sections to the current page.
• An a element becomes a working link when it has an href. Its visible text should tell readers where they will go.
• Use aria-current="page" on the current location. The current page may be plain text rather than a link to itself.