How Do You Spell BREADCRUMBS?
Pronunciation: [bɹˈɛdkɹʌmz] (IPA) 
Pronunciation: [bɹˈɛdkɹʌmz] (IPA)
Breadcrumbs, in the context of digital technology, refer to navigational links or indicators that help users track their current location within a website or application. The term is derived from the trail of breadcrumbs left behind by Hansel and Gretel in the popular fairy tale.
In web design, breadcrumbs typically appear near the top of a webpage and provide clickable paths back to previous pages or sections within a site. They serve as a visual aid to assist users in understanding the structure and hierarchy of a website, allowing them to easily navigate to higher-level pages or categories.
There are two common types of breadcrumbs: location-based and attribute-based. Location-based breadcrumbs show the path from the homepage to the current page, while attribute-based breadcrumbs display the attributes or categories that define the current page.
Breadcrumbs are particularly useful in large websites or e-commerce platforms with deep hierarchies, as they enable users to retrace their steps or jump directly to a higher-level section. They enhance the overall user experience by reducing confusion and saving time, as users can quickly understand their position within a site and easily backtrack if needed.
Overall, breadcrumbs provide clear and efficient navigation aids that contribute to the user-friendliness and usability of websites and applications.
The word "breadcrumbs" consists of two parts. The first part, "bread", originates from the Old English word "bred" which meant a piece of food made from baked dough. The second part, "crumbs", is derived from the Middle English word "crumbes", which specifically referred to small fragments or pieces of bread. Over time, the term "breadcrumbs" emerged to describe the small, broken pieces or crumbs left over from bread.
