> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://dokumentation.websale.de/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Navigation

> Overview of the navigation of a WEBSALE V8s shop: product menu, links to company information, and breadcrumb path.

When designing an online shop, navigation is one of the first tasks. Two jobs have to be solved here. First, the product catalog with all categories and products needs a menu structure, the product menu. Second, all other offerings need their own menu elements and links, for example imprint, terms and conditions, and contact.

In addition, there is the breadcrumb path as an orientation aid within the catalog.

## Product menu

For the product catalog, WEBSALE V8s provides two menu types. They differ in effort and in creative freedom.

| Menu type | Structure | Sensible when |
| - | - | - |
| List menu | is generated automatically by a single tag | you want to build standard navigation quickly and with low maintenance |
| Menu with individual positioning | menu levels and navigation items are built yourself from sections and loops | you want to design the menu graphically freely |

Both types can also be combined, for example an automatically generated submenu below a freely designed main menu. In addition to automatic generation and design options, the types differ in further technical characteristics and options, which are described on the respective pages.

Guide: Automatically generated product menu 

## Links to company information and service offerings

Company information and services do not belong to the product catalog and are only indirectly connected to the order process, if at all. They are therefore not generated via the product menu, but inserted as individual links at any position in the shop, usually in the header or in the footer.

The path to these pages is generated by the `WS-LoadTpl()` tag and, for pages to be delivered over encrypted connections, `WS-SSLLoadTpl()`.

Reference: WS-LoadTpl() 

## Breadcrumb navigation for category and product

The breadcrumb path is generated by the shop system automatically and dynamically from the current category path. It serves two purposes. The visitor sees at which position in the shop structure they are located, and they can jump directly to each element of the path.

Additionally, microdata for search engines can be placed in the breadcrumb path, from which search engines generate so-called rich snippets.

Reference: Cat-Path 


## Related topics

- [Navigation and category tree](https://dokumentation.websale.de/en/v8s/referenz/tags/cat/navigation-und-kategoriebaum.md)
- [$wsNavigation - Breadcrumb](https://dokumentation.websale.de/en/frontend/referenz/module/wsnavigation.md)
- [Browsing - Navigation between products](https://dokumentation.websale.de/en/frontend/funktionsubersicht/blaettern-von-produkt-zu-produkt.md)
- [ST- (page state and navigation)](https://dokumentation.websale.de/en/v8s/referenz/tags/st/seitenzustand-und-navigation.md)
- [FACT-Finder: Filters, sorting and navigation](https://dokumentation.websale.de/en/v8s/integration-von-fact-finder/fact-finder-filter-sortierung-und-navigation.md)


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