As a WordPress user, you‘ve probably encountered the concept of a "primary menu." But what exactly does this term mean? After 15 years as a webmaster, I‘m here to provide the definitive guide on mastering primary menus in WordPress.
Contents
Before diving into the primary menu, it helps to understand why navigation menus matter in WordPress.
Effective website navigation is crucial. It allows visitors to easily browse and find information on your site.
The good news is WordPress makes managing navigation easy. You can create custom menus under Appearance > Menus.
These menus can then be displayed by themes that declare menu locations. Most themes have at least one location called "Primary Menu" in the header area.
What Makes the Primary Menu Special?
The primary menu has a special status in WordPress themes. Here‘s why it‘s different:
- It‘s the default menu that will show if no menu is assigned to the location.
- Themes are coded to give the primary menu prime real estate like the header.
- Many themes only allow one menu in header (the primary menu location).
Without a primary menu, pages would display by default. So the primary menu gives you control over main site navigation.
When to Use the Primary Menu
I recommend using the primary menu for your most important site-wide links. These may include:
- Homepage
- Top level site sections
- "About" and "Contact" pages
- Important categories or content pages
The primary menu appears on every page, so be selective. Only include your core navigation links.
Secondary menus can handle less critical items like:
- Social media links
- Specific categories
- Lower level pages
- Archive links
Best Practices for Primary Menu Setup
Here are my top tips for configuring your primary menu:
Keep it Simple
- 5-10 menu items is ideal. More can overwhelm.
- Use succinct labels like "About" vs. "About Our Company."
Put Important Links First
- List homepage, about, contact pages first.
- If linking categories, lead with most popular/relevant ones.
Use Menu Settings Wisely
- Enable descriptive menu item labels for accessibility.
- Allow 2-3 levels maximum to avoid messy sub-menus.
Choose Styles to Complement Your Site
- Keep background & text colors minimalistic.
- Use modern, legible fonts & sufficient spacing.
- Test the responsive mobile menu.
Taking the time to structure your primary navigation creates a quality user experience. Visitors appreciate clear menus that help them find information easily.
To recap, the primary menu handles top-level links seen site-wide. Thoughtful menu creation rewards users and improves site navigation.
