Navigation is the route a visitor takes to understand a site and reach its information. Check more than the top menu. Test the logo, category links, in-article links, pagination, footer, search results, login gates, and buttons. A route that works on desktop may fail on a phone; a link may work on one template but be missing from another.
Use a simple test: start from the homepage, open a representative article, follow a category link, move to another page of results, and find the contact or help route. Note each click and expected destination. Look for 404 errors, loops, redirects to unrelated pages, controls that do nothing, labels that do not describe their target, and content hidden behind an account when public access is expected.
Google’s AdSense rejection guidance describes site navigation issues and gives examples such as broken links, excessive pop-ups, redirects, and pages that are under construction or difficult to access. The page-readiness guide also asks whether visitors can navigate easily. Fix confirmed visitor problems rather than adding a large number of links indiscriminately.
Example: If a “View more” button sends every category to the same archive, revise the links so each one reaches the category it names. If a pop-up blocks the close button on small screens, test a less intrusive placement or remove it.
Use SiteReadyScore to help build a list of public URLs and possible link or access issues. Then reproduce each issue in a browser, correct it, and test the same route after the fix. Save the evidence and date so you can see whether the change held.