Set Up Header and Navbar
Add action buttons and navigation links to your documentation site's header to guide users to key actions and resources.
Set up your documentation site's header with action buttons and navigation links. The Documentation.AI platform displays your navbar at the top of every page, providing users with easy access to key actions and external resources.
Prerequisites
- Access to your
documentation.jsonfile - List of key actions you want users to take (signup, login, contact, etc.)
- URLs for external resources or contact methods
- Understanding of your user journey and primary conversion goals
Set Up Your Header Navigation
Follow these steps to add action buttons and links to your site header.
Step 1: Plan your header strategy
Determine what actions you want users to take:
- Primary action: Main conversion goal (signup, trial, demo)
- Secondary actions: Supporting links (login, support, external resources)
- Contact methods: Email, phone, or chat support
Step 2: Add navbar configuration
Open your documentation.json file and add the navbar section:
{
"navbar": {
"actions": {
"primary": {
"title": "Get Started",
"link": "https://dashboard.example.com/signup"
},
"links": [
{
"title": "Login",
"link": "https://dashboard.example.com/login"
}
]
}
}
}
Step 3: Configure primary action button
Set up your main call-to-action button:
- Choose action-oriented text ("Get Started", "Try Free", "Sign Up")
- Link to your primary conversion URL
- Ensure the URL works and loads quickly
{
"primary": {
"title": "Get Started",
"link": "https://dashboard.example.com/signup"
}
}
Main call-to-action button for user engagement.
Step 4: Add secondary navigation links
Include additional helpful links:
{
"links": [
{
"title": "Login",
"link": "https://dashboard.example.com/login"
},
{
"title": "Support",
"link": "mailto:support@example.com"
}
]
}
Array of secondary navigation links displayed as text in the navbar.
Step 5: Add contact links
Include direct contact options using special protocols:
{
"links": [
{
"title": "Email Support",
"link": "mailto:support@example.com"
},
{
"title": "Call Sales",
"link": "tel:+1-555-0123"
}
]
}
Supported link types:
- Web URLs:
https://example.com - Email:
mailto:support@example.com - Phone:
tel:+1-555-0123
Step 6: Test your header setup
- Save your
documentation.jsonfile - Deploy or preview your changes
- Verify all links work correctly
- Test on different screen sizes (mobile, tablet, desktop)
- Check that contact links open appropriate applications
Optimize Your Header
Choose effective button text
- Use action verbs: "Get Started", "Try Free", "Sign Up"
- Keep text short (1-3 words)
- Match your brand voice and user expectations
Prioritize link order
- Place most important links first
- Limit secondary links to 3-4 items
- Consider user workflow and priority
Test across devices
- Ensure header works on mobile devices
- Verify touch targets are appropriately sized
- Check that text remains readable at all sizes
Complete Header Example
{
"navbar": {
"actions": {
"primary": {
"title": "Start Free Trial",
"link": "https://app.example.com/signup"
},
"links": [
{
"title": "Sign In",
"link": "https://app.example.com/login"
},
{
"title": "Pricing",
"link": "https://example.com/pricing"
},
{
"title": "Get Help",
"link": "mailto:support@example.com"
}
]
}
}
}
Troubleshooting Header Issues
Button not appearing: Verify JSON syntax and proper nesting under navbar.actions
Links not working: Check URLs are complete and accessible
Mobile display issues: Test responsive behavior on different screen sizes
Contact links not opening: Ensure proper mailto: or tel: protocol format
What's Next
- Set up your site branding and logos
- Configure navigation structure
- Customize colors and typography
- See complete site configuration reference
Header configuration is completely optional. You can include just a primary button, just secondary links, or both. The platform automatically handles responsive design and optimal placement across all device sizes.