| The human mind constantly searches for patterns in | | | | style properties in another document, it is possible to |
| everything that it sees everyday, striving to find the | | | | achieve the same look and feel to all your webpages |
| unified picture as a whole. If the mind cannot find | | | | that use the same style sheet. A style sheet, for |
| pattern in what it is seeking, it has a high tendency | | | | example, can be used to make the text on every |
| to look elsewhere. | | | | page 12 pt Verdana, all headings (h1) orange..etc. If |
| When doing web design, it is important to design the | | | | the style of the site needs to be changed for any |
| website in such a way that makes it easier, not | | | | reason, only one document needs to be updated. |
| harder for the mind to see the pattern. It must be | | | | Without style sheets, doing manual adjustments on |
| clear to a visitor he is still at the same site. | | | | every page is tedious and often result in errors and |
| If objects with similiar functions are grouped | | | | inconsistency. |
| together, its function will be easily understood and | | | | Another way to promote site consistency is to use |
| remembered. When designing an interface, it is | | | | templates. A website template is a document that |
| important that all similiar tools used for navigation and | | | | defines the structure of muliple pages in your site. |
| accessing information should stay consistent. The | | | | For example, if the header and footer are standard |
| webpage font, style, colour, layout, mouse over | | | | across all pages in your site, they can be attached to |
| effects should also stay consistent. When the user | | | | the body of your document via an automated |
| clicks a link, he must recognize the connecting page is | | | | process, saving you time and typing errors. Many |
| similar to the previous one, failing to do so will make | | | | web editing softwares such as Dreamweaver offer |
| the user confused and will prompt him to visit other | | | | templating function. Server-side technologies can also |
| websites. | | | | do the same job easily. |
| If there are sound or animation used in navigation, | | | | Consistency is very important in website design |
| the sound and animated effect should stay the same | | | | because it makes the reader do less thinking. Time is |
| in all pages. For example, if an animation is turned on | | | | money. Your reader wants to find the information he |
| by clicking a flash button, it should be done the same | | | | needs quickly. Inconsistency design only slows down |
| way in the rest of the webpages. | | | | their surfing speed and make them lose interest in |
| One method of ensuring consistency is to use | | | | your site easily. |
| Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). By defining standard | | | | |