Header
- Height: 48-64px (compact apps), 64-80px (marketing sites)
- Contents: Logo (left), navigation (center or right), actions (right)
- Sticky: Consider sticky for long-scroll pages, but it steals vertical space
- Compact on scroll: Reduce height and hide secondary items when scrolling down
Header Hierarchy
| Element | Priority | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Logo/brand | Always visible | Left |
| Primary nav | Always visible (desktop) | Center or left |
| Search | Visible or icon-toggle | Center or right |
| User menu | Always visible (logged in) | Right |
| CTA | Optional | Right |
Footer
- Not a junk drawer. Only include useful navigation and legal requirements.
- Column layout: 3-4 columns of links, grouped by category
- Required: Copyright, privacy policy, terms of service
- Useful: Contact info, social links, newsletter signup
- Skip: Links that duplicate the main navigation
Mobile Header
- Logo left, hamburger right (or vice versa)
- Important action (cart, search) visible as icon
- Sticky bottom bar for primary actions (not header)
Dark Footer on Light Sites
Works well. The visual weight anchors the page and separates content from legal/navigation.