Summary

Landmarks provide easy access to major structural sections spread across a multi-document publication.

Techniques

• Include a landmarks navigation element. [[WCAG-2.4.5]]

Example

<nav epub:type="landmarks">
   <h2>Guide</h2>
   <ol>
     <li>
       <a 
         epub:type="toc"
         href="#toc">Table of Contents</a>
     </li>
     <li>
       <a
         epub:type="loi"
         href="front.html#loi">List of Images</a>
     </li>
     <li>
       <a
         epub:type="lot"
         href="front.html#lot">List of Tables</a>
     </li>
     <li>
       <a 
         epub:type="bodymatter"
         href="c01.html#c01">Start of Content</a>
     </li>
     <li>
       <a
         epub:type="glossary"
         href="gloss.html#gloss">Glossary</a>
     </li>
     <li>
       <a
         epub:type="bibliography"
         href="app.html#biblio">Bibliography</a>
     </li>
     <li>
       <a
         epub:type="index"
         href="index.html#index">Index</a>
     </li>
   </ol>
</nav>

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I include a landmarks nav if the toc nav already links to everything?

Not only does the landmarks nav simplify access to major sections of the publication, without having the navigate the entire table of contents, but it also facilitates user agent behaviors. A device that gives the option to automatically open to the first page of the body, for example, or provides quick links to the index or glossary can make use of the extra semantics in the landmarks nav to this end.

Do I need to include a guide in the package document?

Like the ability to include an NCX file, the guide element exists in EPUB 3 only to facilitate forwards compatibility in older user agents. You are not required to support older systems, but if you decide to you should include a guide.

Explanation

Landmarks navigation enables quick access to major sections of the content. It is similar to ARIA landmarks, but ARIA landmarks are dynamically compiled by an assistive technology for the current page a user is on. Landmarks navigation, on the other hand, is a static list of locations that allows sections across a multi-document publication to be listed. Also, unlike ARIA landmarks, a landmarks navigation element can be made available to all users, not just users of assistive technologies.

Related Links

• HTML — The nav element
• EPUB 3 — The landmarks nav Element
• EPUB 2 — Guide