Affiliate Disclosure
On large screens (like desktops and wide monitors), a Table of Contents (TOC) can be designed to provide even greater utility and visual clarity compared to smaller devices. Here’s how best-practice, feature-rich TOC interfaces function on large screens:
Best UI Practices for TOC on Large Screens
1. Permanent Sidebar Placement
- Fixed Sidebar: Place the TOC in a sidebar (usually left or right aligned) that remains visible and accessible as users scroll through the content.
- Width: Sidebar width can be between 200–300px for optimal readability without crowding main content.
- Sticky/Floating Behavior: Make the TOC sticky so it stays in view, or allow it to scroll independently in very long documents.[1][2]
2. Multi-level Hierarchies and Indentation
- Show Multiple Levels: Display clear indentation for headings, sub-headings, and even deeper levels when necessary.
- Collapsible Sections: For long documents, allow users to expand or collapse major sections to minimize clutter.[1]
- Visual Cues: Use arrows, chevrons, or plus/minus icons to show expandable/collapsible hierarchy.
3. Active Section Highlighting
- Current Position Indicator: Highlight the current section in the TOC as the user scrolls (“scroll spy”), possibly with a bold font or background color.[2][1]
- Smooth Animation: Provide smooth scrolling and transitions to improve navigation feedback.
4. Navigational Enhancements
- Clickable Links: All headings within the TOC are clickable, using anchor links for quick jumps.
- Back to Top Button: Optionally, place a “Back to Top” shortcut at the top or bottom of the TOC for rapid navigation in long pages.
5. Additional Features and Details
- Numbered Headings: Optionally number each TOC entry for clarity in heavily structured documents.
- Progress Bar: Integrate a reading progress bar alongside or within the TOC area to visually represent how much the user has read.
- Search Function: For very large documents, a search box at the top of the TOC allows users to quickly locate sections.[1]
- Hover and Focus States: Use subtle highlight effects for mouse hover and keyboard focus to improve accessibility.
6. Visual and Accessibility Enhancements
- Contrast and Readability: Ensure sufficient contrast between TOC text and background.
- Semantic Markup: Use , , and appropriate ARIA roles for assistive technologies.
- Keyboard Navigation: All TOC links should be accessible via keyboard tabbing.
Example Layout on Large Screens
| Feature | Implementation on Large Screens |
|---|---|
| Placement | Left/right fixed sidebar |
| Visibility | Always visible, sticky/fixed, scrollable |
| Hierarchy | Multi-level, collapsible, visually clear |
| Navigation Feedback | Highlight active, smooth scroll, numbers |
| Advanced Features | Section collapse/expand, search, progress |
| Accessibility | Semantic markup, large click targets, keyboard support |
By taking advantage of the wider viewport, a well-designed TOC on large screens becomes both an effective navigational tool and an at-a-glance map of the document’s structure, improving overall user experience and efficiency.[3][2][1]
References:
- [1] https://www.nngroup.com/articles/table-of-contents/
- [2] https://arun.is/blog/table-of-contents/
- [3] https://css-tricks.com/a-perfect-table-of-contents-with-html-css/