Site Header
A site header holds the brand, main navigation, account, and site-wide tools at the top.
A real example
The header holds the logo and account button. The navigation bar inside it holds the page links.
Main parts
- 01Current location
- 02Destination labels
- 03Focus order
- 04Responsive behavior
Use it when
Use it for site-wide information and actions that should stay easy to find.
Do not use it when
Never call every toolbar at the top of a small panel a site header.
Name used in code
<header> Before you ship
Before release, check the page structure, keyboard access, visible focus, contrast, and zoom. Also check loading, empty, error, success, cancel, and reduced-motion states.
Outcome: Use Site Header to solve this user need without losing the current context. User context: The header holds the logo and account button. The navigation bar inside it holds the page links. Recommended pattern: Site Header. Why it fits: Use it for site-wide information and actions that should stay easy to find. Do not use it when: Never call every toolbar at the top of a small panel a site header. Product requirements: Define the default, loading, empty, error, success, and recovery states. Keep user input. Give clear feedback after every action. Accessibility and resilience: Use semantic HTML, full keyboard access, and visible focus. Make the layout work when zoomed and support reduced motion. Follow the project’s current rules. Do not add a new UI library unless the project already uses it. Acceptance criteria: The main task works with keyboard only and at 320px width. Focus and status changes are announced. Check loading, failure, retry, cancel, and reduced-motion paths. Evidence and limits (evidence boundary): No single official standard controls the whole term. Its meaning may change across teams, platforms, or frameworks. Unknowns to confirm: Product wording, data source, analytics events, supported devices and languages, and platform limits.
Check this request
Review the current use of Site Header. Definition: A site header holds the brand, main navigation, account, and site-wide tools at the top. Release checks: Before release, check the page structure, keyboard access, visible focus, contrast, and zoom. Also check loading, empty, error, success, cancel, and reduced-motion states. Before changing code, report the evidence you found, gaps, severity, and the smallest safe fix.