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Introducing The Hamburger Menu
For years, the humble hamburger menu, those three stacked lines tucked neatly into the corner of a website – has been the go-to navigation pattern for mobile interfaces. But increasingly, we’re seeing it appear across all devices, including desktop. This shift raises an important question for UX and digital design teams: Is the universal use of the hamburger menu now a safe, user-friendly standard, or are we hiding away vital navigation at the cost of engagement?
A Mobile-First World
There’s no doubt about it: mobile dominates. As of 2024, over 55% of global web traffic comes from mobile devices, and the trend continues upward. This mobile-first behaviour has driven a convergence in interface expectations. Users now often expect to see familiar icons and interactions, regardless of device.
In this context, the hamburger menu becomes more than a mobile solution. It’s a consistent UI pattern that offers visual simplicity and a familiar interaction for users switching between devices.
The Case For a Universal Hamburger Menu
Consistency Across Devices
Users who start a journey on their phone and return later on desktop expect the same navigation flow. A unified design helps reduce friction and improves recognition.
Cleaner Layouts
Tucking secondary navigation into a menu frees up space for bold imagery, content, and primary calls to action. This is essential for experience-led brands.
Increased Familiarity
Recent studies show up to 90% of users now recognise the hamburger icon, particularly younger demographics. It’s no longer a mystery icon.
UI Simplicity Supports Focus
By prioritising content over navigation chrome, hamburger menus can shift focus toward the task at hand. That might be buying a ticket, exploring a venue, or reading a story.
But It’s Not Without Risk
That said, hiding all navigation behind an icon does come with a cost, especially on desktop.
- A study by the Nielsen Norman Group revealed that engagement with hidden navigation dropped by up to 20% compared to visible links.
- A/B testing by large platforms like Booking.com has shown that key page visits drop when navigation is buried behind a hamburger icon. This is particularly true for new visitors.
So while the hamburger menu can offer a tidy and modern aesthetic, it’s important not to let minimalism override usability.
A Smarter Approach: Hybrid Navigation
If you’re considering a hamburger menu across your entire site, consider a hybrid model:
- Keep the hamburger for full navigation, but surface key actions or top pages on desktop.
- Add a “Menu” label next to the icon to improve recognition.
- Ensure the menu is keyboard accessible, screen reader friendly, and easy to close on all devices.
In short, it’s not a question of if the hamburger is safe. It’s how it’s implemented that matters.
Looking To Improve Your Website’s Navigation & User Experience?
Explore our UX optimisation and website design services to see how we can help you create intuitive, high-performing digital experiences. If you’d like support with implementing or refining a hamburger menu, get in touch with our team—we’re here to help.