Hamburger Menu

[ham-bur-ger men-yoo]

A hamburger menu is a button commonly found in websites and applications that consists of three horizontal lines stacked on top of each other, resembling a hamburger. When clicked or tapped, it reveals a hidden navigation menu containing links and other menu items.

Origin and Evolution

The hamburger menu icon was originally designed by Norm Cox for the Xerox Star personal workstation in 1981. It has since become one of the most recognized and widely used interface elements in digital design. Its popularity surged with the rise of mobile devices and responsive web design, as it offered an elegant solution for condensing navigation menus on smaller screens.

Design Benefits and Considerations

Advantages

Saves valuable screen space by hiding navigation items
Creates a cleaner, more minimalist interface
Universally recognized across different platforms and cultures
Ideal for responsive design and mobile-first approaches

Potential Drawbacks

Can reduce discoverability of navigation items
May increase the number of clicks needed to access content
Some users, particularly older ones, might not recognize its function
Can impact user engagement if critical navigation items are hidden

Implementation Best Practices

Design Guidelines

Maintain consistent positioning (typically top-right corner)
Ensure adequate touch target size (minimum 44x44 pixels)
Provide visual feedback when interacted with
Consider adding a “Menu” label for clarity

Technical Considerations

Implement smooth animations for menu transitions
Ensure keyboard accessibility
Include proper ARIA labels for screen readers
Test functionality across different devices and browsers

Modern Alternatives

While the hamburger menu remains popular, designers are exploring alternative navigation patterns:

Bottom navigation bars
Tab bars
Progressive disclosure
Priority+ navigation
Combination approaches using both visible and hidden navigation elements

The choice of navigation pattern should always be based on the specific needs of your users and the goals of your website or application. While the hamburger menu is a valuable tool in the designer’s toolkit, it’s essential to consider whether it’s the most appropriate solution for your specific use case.