Consistent Navigation
Navigational mechanisms that are repeated on multiple web pages within a set of web pages occur in the same relative order each time they are repeated, unless a change is initiated by the user.
In plain language
If a site has a navigation menu (or other navigation elements) repeated across multiple pages, it should always appear in the same relative position and order — not shuffled around from page to page.
Why it matters
People build a mental map of where things are as they browse. Someone with low vision or a cognitive disability, or anyone using a screen reader, relies on that consistency to navigate efficiently. If the menu order changes on every page, they have to re-learn the layout each time.
In practice
Fails this criterion
The main navigation links appear in the order Home-About-Contact on one page, but Contact-Home-About on another page.
Meets this criterion
The main navigation appears in the exact same order, in the same position, on every page of the site.
Test it yourself
Visit several different pages on the site and compare the position and order of the navigation menu on each. If it changes from page to page, this criterion is failing.