Creating a website or web app that offers a seamless user experience (UX) is essential for engagement and retention. Here are nine essential features that your website or web app should include to ensure a superior UX.

1. Don’t let the user get lost

A key principle of good UX design is keeping users aware of where they are within your website or app.

A good example of how this can be achieved is by using navigation aids like Breadcrumbs.

Breadcrumbs offer a clear, step-by-step path to help users understand how they arrived at the current page and how to navigate back, if needed.

When users have a clear sense of place, they feel more comfortable and less confused, leading to a smoother browsing experience.

2. Update the URL of dynamic pages based on what is shown

When users interact with dynamic content—such as filtering products or sorting items—the URL should reflect these changes.

For example, if a user applies filters to show only blue shirts in size medium, the URL should be something like www.example.com/products?color=blue&size=medium.

This approach ensures that users can easily return to their filtered view using the back button, or while sharing the personalised view with others.

3. Work on perceived performance along with actual performance

Fast load times are crucial, but the perception of speed is just as important.

Implement features like skeleton screens (where basic UI shapes load first) and smooth page transitions to give the illusion that the site is loading faster than it might be.

Instead of showing a blank screen while waiting for content, displaying skeleton loaders that mirror the content's layout keeps users engaged.

Transition effects can also create a smoother flow between actions and pages, making users feel like the app is responsive even when there’s a slight delay.

4. Easily accessible navigation

Your navigation system should be easy to find, use, and understand. Whether it’s a sticky navigation bar that follows users as they scroll or an intuitive menu structure, users should never struggle to locate key sections of your site.

Here is a suggestion for a great navigation experience:

The navigation can be sticky. When the user scrolls down, the navigation can disappear so that the user can focus on the content. When the user scrolls up, the navigation can appear since the user's intent might be to access the navigation.

Additionally, a search bar with auto-suggestions can be an excellent fallback for users who know what they want but don’t know how to find it. The overall goal is to provide quick access to content without overwhelming users with too many options at once.

5. Keyboard-Friendly

Not all users navigate with a mouse or touchscreen—some rely on their keyboard. Ensure that all interactive elements, such as buttons, links, and form fields, can be accessed via the keyboard.

Here are some common keyboard-friendly practices:

• Include using the Tab key to navigate between elements and providing clear focus states (e.g., outlines on input) so users can see where they are on the page.
• Include using the Enter Key to submit forms, especially forms which can be submitted multiple times. This may not be ideal for all forms. For eg. for a job application forms where the user has to carefully review all the fields before submitting, this feature should not be implemented.

6. Localization

If your website or app targets a global audience, localization is essential for a positive user experience. Localization means adapting content to fit the language, culture, and even legal requirements of specific regions.

Offering translated content, local currencies, date formats, and addressing regional sensitivities builds trust and ensures users feel catered to in their specific locale.

It is important to automatically detect a user’s region oand allow them to switch between different versions of your site easily.

7. Useful error messages

When things go wrong, the way you communicate errors can make a huge difference in the user experience. Ensure your error messages are clear, informative, and helpful. Rather than a generic “Something went wrong” message, provide specific details, like “Your password must include at least one special character” or “This page no longer exists—here’s a link to go back.” Offering solutions such as suggested actions or direct links to customer support helps users recover quickly, reducing frustration.

8. Meaningful Animations

Animations are a double-edged sword: they can either enhance the user experience or detract from it. When used appropriately, meaningful animations guide the user’s attention and clarify transitions between states (e.g., hovering over a button, dragging items).

For example, a button that gently grows when hovered over indicates that it’s interactive, or a smooth animation when an item is added to the cart can confirm the action was successful.

The key is to keep animations purposeful and non-intrusive, improving clarity without distracting users.

Conclusion

By incorporating these features, you create a more intuitive, and user-friendly experience for your audience. Prioritizing your user's experience, will set your website or web app apart from the competition and keep users coming back.

The best user experiences are those that feel effortless, providing exactly what the user needs at the moment they need it.