# Finding Your Way
*Navigating 34,000 pages without getting lost*
---
An archive this size could easily become overwhelming. We've designed it to feel like a well-organized library instead of a maze.
> **In this article:** Sidebar explorer · Breadcrumb trails · Previous/Next buttons · Alphabetical navigation · Mobile-friendly shortcuts
### The Sidebar
On the left side of every page, you'll find the explorer—a tree-like view of all content:
```
+-----------------------------------------------------+
| SIDEBAR EXPLORER |
+-----------------------------------------------------+
| |
| v Bhagavad-gita As It Is # Click to navigate |
| v Chapter 4 # Expands/collapses |
| o Text 1 |
| o Text 2 |
| * Text 34 # Current page |
| > Chapter 5 # Collapsed |
| > Srimad-Bhagavatam |
| > Sri Caitanya-caritamrta |
| |
+-----------------------------------------------------+
```
Rather than showing raw folder names, it displays readable titles:
| Folder | Display |
|--------|---------|
| `bg` | Bhagavad-gītā As It Is |
| `sb` | Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam |
| `cc` | Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta |
| `books/kb` | KṚṢṆA Book |
| `books/nod` | Nectar of Devotion |
**Clicking folder names:** Takes you directly to that section's main page.
**Clicking the arrow (>):** Expands or collapses the folder contents.
There's also a "collapse all" button in the toolbar to reset the view when things get too expanded.
### Breadcrumbs
At the top of each page, breadcrumbs show exactly where you are:
```
+-----------------------------------------------------+
| BREADCRUMB TRAIL |
+-----------------------------------------------------+
| |
| Bhagavad-gita As It Is > Chapter 4 > Text 34 |
| ^ ^ ^ |
| Click to go Click to Current |
| to book index go to chapter page |
| |
+-----------------------------------------------------+
```
**On mobile**, breadcrumbs shorten automatically to fit smaller screens:
| Screen Size | Display |
|-------------|---------|
| Desktop (>430px) | Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam › Canto 1 › Chapter 2 › Text 3 |
| Mobile (≤430px) | Bhāgavatam › Canto 1 › Chapter 2 › Text 3 |
| Very small (≤374px) | SB › 1 › Ch 2 › 3 |
| Tiny (≤320px) | SB › 1 › 2 › 3 |
### Previous and Next
At the bottom of each page, navigation buttons let you continue reading in order:
```
+-----------------------------------------------------+
| PAGE NAVIGATION |
+-----------------------------------------------------+
| |
| [<- Previous] [Next ->] |
| Text 33 Text 35 |
| |
| * Buttons pre-load the next page for speed |
| |
+-----------------------------------------------------+
```
These buttons are "smart" - they know that after Chapter 4 comes Chapter 5, and after Text 34 comes Text 35. Hovering over them pre-loads the next page for faster navigation.
### Alphabetical Navigation
For large index pages (50+ entries), a floating alphabet sidebar appears:
```
+-----------------------------------------------------+
| ALPHABET NAVIGATION |
+-----------------------------------------------------+
| +---+ |
| # A | A | |
| ------------------------- | B | |
| * Abhaya -- fearlessness [[...]] | C | |
| * Abhidheya -- process of devotion | D | |
| * Absolute Truth -- [[...]] |...| |
| | Z | |
| # B +---+ |
| ------------------------- ^ |
| * Bali Maharaja -- [[...]] Jump to |
| |
+-----------------------------------------------------+
```
Click any letter to jump directly to that section. The navigation stays visible as you scroll.
### Letters and Lectures
For spoken content and letters, the sidebar shows dates in a readable format. When you open a lecture page, a photo of Srila Prabhupada appears in the sidebar—a visual reminder of whose words you're reading.
> **See also:** [[archive/about/media-features|Media Features]] for details on audio players and images.
---
> [!question] Frequently Asked Questions
>
> **Q: How do I collapse all folders at once?**
> Look for the toolbar button that collapses all folders in the sidebar. This is helpful when the tree gets too expanded and you want to start fresh.
>
> **Q: Do breadcrumbs work on mobile?**
> Yes. Breadcrumbs automatically shorten on smaller screens. On very small phones, "Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam" becomes "SB" to fit.
>
> **Q: Why do some folder names have diacritics and others don't?**
> We display proper Sanskrit transliteration (Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam) in the sidebar. The underlying folders use simplified names (bg, sb) for technical compatibility.
>
> **Q: How does Previous/Next know what comes next?**
> Each page has metadata indicating its neighbors. For sequential content like verses, this follows the natural reading order.
>
> **Q: Why doesn't the alphabet navigation appear on all pages?**
> It only appears on index entry pages with 50 or more items—where it's actually useful. On smaller lists, you can scroll through easily.
>
> **Q: Can I navigate with keyboard shortcuts?**
> Arrow keys work in [[archive/about/study-tools|Presentation Mode]] and the [[archive/about/media-features|Image Lightbox]]. Regular page navigation uses the buttons or sidebar.
---
> [!abstract]- Technical Implementation Details
>
> Navigation in a large content archive requires careful architecture.
>
> **Folder Title Mapping**
>
> The `FolderTitles` module maintains 70+ path-to-title mappings (e.g., `bg` → "Bhagavad-gītā As It Is"). Special files like introductions have custom titles.
>
> **Folder Notes**
>
> The `FolderNotes` module makes folder titles clickable. Clicking the title navigates to the folder's index page; clicking the arrow expands/collapses.
>
> **Responsive Breadcrumbs**
>
> The `Breadcrumbs` module uses viewport detection with multiple breakpoints (320px, 374px, 414px, 430px). Different title sets for different sizes:
> - Desktop: "Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam"
> - Mobile: "Bhāgavatam"
> - Tiny: "SB"
>
> **Page Navigation with Prefetching**
>
> The `PageNavigation` module prefetches next/previous pages on hover using `<link rel="prefetch">`. Navigation reads from YAML frontmatter with retry logic for mobile.
>
> **Alphabetical Navigation**
>
> The `AlphabeticalNav` module creates floating A-Z navigation for lists with 50+ items. Styled as fixed sidebar, hidden on mobile.
>
> *See also: [[archive/about/cross-references|Cross-References]] for backlinks and embeds.*