Squares are used to represent each web page.
Any web pages that are still being worked on or going to be developed in the future are represented by a dotted rectangle.
Multiple pages on a same level can all be clustered. This is very helpful because showing each individual page on that level would be difficult due to limited space.
There are some basic criteria to deciding what can become a cluster page:
- The pages being clustered are located no higher than Level 3 of the website; preferably they are at lower levels. Clustering at too high a level (e.g., from the home page) will often hide pertinent information and page relationships further down in the website structure. More on this later.
- There are no sub-pages under the clustered items.
- Clustering prevents individual paths through the website from being seen, so any value gained from knowing those paths to lower-level pages is lost.
- The pages have similar content.
Executive biographies, press releases, job postings, and discussion board entries all work well for clustering because these are multiple pages with similar content. Given their inherent similarities, showing them separately does not offer enough value to offset the visual clutter they introduce into the diagram. - The quantity of pages is likely to change frequently.
Rather than change the diagram on a daily basis, it is best to show a cluster.
Here is an example of how a site diagram would look like:
- Now that you've learned how to make a Site Diagram, learn how to make a Content Inventory where all pages are listed using an Excel file.
- Learn what a Wireframe is and how it helps with the functionality of a web site.
