Resource guide
3.2.3 Consistent Navigation
Navigation mechanisms that appear on multiple pages must appear in the same order each time.
By Calling All Minds·Last updated April 2026
Success criterion
Conformance level
Legal standard — required for EAA compliance.
What it means
Predictable navigation helps users build a mental model of a site. If the main navigation, search bar, or other repeated mechanisms change order between pages, users must reorient themselves each time.
This does not mean the navigation must be identical across all pages, only that if the same navigation mechanism appears on multiple pages, it must appear in the same relative order each time.
In practice
Keep your main navigation in the same order on every page. Do not reorder links or move elements to different positions between sections of your site.
If you highlight the current section in navigation, that is fine. If you reorder the remaining links around the current one, that may fail this criterion.
Breadcrumbs and in-page navigation that differ per page are acceptable as long as they follow a consistent pattern.
Common failures
- Navigation menu that reorders links alphabetically on some pages and by popularity on others
- Secondary navigation that appears before the primary navigation on some pages and after it on others
AXS Audit
AXS Audit checks your site against 3.2.3 and flags issues your team can act on straight away. It covers criteria that automated scanners often miss.