Navigation model

Four navigation layers, one Back destination per page and no dead ends. Global navigation lists destinations only; anything that changes state rather than location is a page-level control.

Navigation layers

Layer	Purpose	Where it appears
Main navigation	Move between the four stages: Understand, Design, Build & validate, Reference	Sidebar, always visible
Contextual navigation	Peer destinations inside the current area	Sidebar, appears only inside that area
Search	Reach any of the 200+ entries directly by name, synonym or question	Header button, ⌘K palette, /search page
Wayfinding	Where am I, how do I get back	Breadcrumb in the header, Back control on every child page
Local navigation	Peer views of one page	Tabs inside the page (pattern detail, view-level switch)
Actions	Change state, not location	Buttons inside the page (filters, toggles, simulations)

Navigation map

Get started (/)                       Search (/search)
│
├── UNDERSTAND
│   ├── Foundations (/guide)
│   │   ├── Guide section (/guide/$slug)
│   │   └── Glossary (/glossary)
│   └── Power BI constraints (/restrictions)
│       └── Good vs avoid (/good-vs-avoid)
│
├── DESIGN
│   ├── Page patterns (/patterns)
│   │   ├── Pattern detail (/patterns/$slug)
│   │   ├── Section catalogue (/patterns/sections)
│   │   ├── Page templates (/templates)
│   │   ├── Page composition (/composition)
│   │   └── Pattern flow explorer (/tools/flow)
│   ├── Components (/components)
│   │   ├── Component detail (/components/$slug)
│   │   └── Component playground (/tools/playground)
│   ├── Visualizations (/visualizations)
│   │   ├── Chart selection (/tools/chart-selection)
│   │   └── Native vs custom (/tools/native-vs-custom)
│   └── Interaction patterns (/interactions)
│       └── Interaction detail (/interactions/$slug)
│
├── BUILD & VALIDATE
│   ├── Design → development (/workflow)
│   │   └── Pattern builder (/tools/builder)
│   └── Examples (/examples)
│       ├── Operational overview (/examples/operational-overview)
│       ├── Tables & matrix standards (/examples/tables)
│       ├── Filters & slicers (/examples/filters)
│       └── KPI & cards (/examples/kpi)
│
└── REFERENCE
    ├── Complete index (/library)
    └── Navigation model (/navigation)

Per-page specification

Page	Parent	Entry point	Back destination	Navigation type	Context passed	Filters retained
Get started	—	Logo, sidebar	—	Global	—	n/a
Search	Get started	Header search, ⌘K palette	Previous page	Global	Query and filter in the URL	Yes (URL state)
Foundations	Get started	Sidebar, home task list	Get started	Global	—	n/a
Guide section	Foundations	Section list, search, related links	Foundations (last state)	Page navigation	Section slug	n/a
Glossary	Foundations	Contextual sidebar, search	Foundations	Local section	Term anchor	Page-local
Power BI constraints	Get started	Sidebar	Get started	Global	—	Page-local
Good vs avoid	Power BI constraints	Contextual sidebar	Power BI constraints	Local section	—	Page-local
Page patterns	Get started	Sidebar, home task list	Get started	Global	—	Yes (last state)
Pattern detail	Page patterns	Pattern card, search	Page patterns (last state)	Page navigation	Pattern slug, active tab	Tab state page-local
Section catalogue	Page patterns	Contextual sidebar, pattern detail	Page patterns	Local section	Section id	n/a
Components	Get started	Sidebar, home task list	Get started	Global	—	Yes (last filter state)
Component detail	Components	Inventory card, search, chart selector	Components (last state)	Page navigation	Component slug	Yes, on return
Visualizations	Get started	Sidebar, components page	Get started	Global	Question filter	Page-local
Chart selection / Native vs custom	Visualizations	Contextual sidebar	Visualizations	Decision tool	Selections	Page-local
Interaction patterns	Get started	Sidebar	Get started	Global	—	n/a
Interaction detail	Interaction patterns	List, contextual sidebar	Interaction patterns	Page navigation	Interaction slug	Simulation-local
Design → development	Get started	Sidebar	Get started	Global	—	n/a
Pattern builder	Design → development	Workflow step, contextual sidebar	Design → development	Tool	Chosen pattern and sections	Page-local
Examples	Get started	Sidebar, home task list	Get started	Global	Active tab	Page-local
Example pages (tables, filters, KPI, overview)	Examples	Examples gallery, contextual sidebar	Examples	Live example	Simulated report state	Simulation-local
Complete index	Get started	Sidebar, search	Get started	Reference	Active index filters	Yes (page-local)
Navigation model	Get started	Footer, sidebar	Get started	Reference	—	n/a

Power BI platform fact

Every relationship above maps to a native Power BI mechanism: main navigation to page navigation buttons or the page tab strip, contextual navigation to a page navigator, Back controls to a back button or drillthrough return, and detail entry to drillthrough with carried filter context.

Power BI limitation

Breadcrumbs are not a native Power BI component. Implement them as a small row of navigation buttons whose labels are driven by the drillthrough filter context, or omit them when a single Back button is sufficient.