Mainstream browse
Mainstream browse is a topic system that groups together content by popular topics on GOV.UK.
How it works
There are two levels of mainstream browse pages:
Mainstream browse topics are listed in the main menu and on the GOV.UK homepage under ‘Services and information’ heading.
Live examples
- Driving and transport – Level one browse page (opens in a new tab)
- Vehicle, tax MOT and insurance – Curated level two browse page (opens in a new tab)
- School admissions and transport to school – Alphabetical level two browse page (opens in a new tab)
Complete list of examples available and page data on Content Data (opens in a new tab).
| Date | Description | Document | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2024 | Findings from a Multi Variate Testing to identify and validate the most effective shortcuts to content on the sixteen Level One mainstream browse pages. These results informed the decision to present links to the three most viewed pages tagged to the Level One browse page’s subtopics at the top of the page. The links are dynamically fetched from SearchAPI. |
Multi Variate Testing on Popular Tasks (opens in a new tab) | Google Docs |
| September 2024 | Usability testing on ‘Popular tasks’ in Level One mainstream topic pages showed that users were able to complete tasks with ease and feel more confident in finding information. This informed the decision to roll out the ‘popular’ links to all the level 1 mainstream browse topic pages, and to change the section title to ‘Most viewed’. |
Popular Links Findings Report (opens in a new tab) | Google Slides |
| May 2024 | A/B test analysis on using a grid vs list UI to present topics on mainstream browse pages. The research indicated that in the list view users need less time to find the content they need. This informed the decision to move from a grid to a list layout. |
AB testing grid vs list on mainstream browse page results (opens in a new tab) | Google Docs |
| July 2023 | Guidance on how to curate mainstream browse pages |
How to curate mainstream browse pages (opens in a new tab) | Google Slides |
| August 2022 | The new accordion design performed worse, on mobile devices in earlier test, leading to a second round of A/B testing. This confirmed lower performance than earlier designs and led to the decision to abandon the accordion design, focus on improving topics that are performing badly in the flat list design, and curating remaining A to Z topics. |
GOV.UK Navigation mainstream browse follow-up A/B test (opens in a new tab) | Google Slides |
| June 2022 | A/B testing was conducted on the new designs for both levels of browse pages, introducing accordions. The intention was to make it easier for users to focus on the main links and increase click through. The study found gerenal improvements but some indications that more iterations were needed on the accordions. |
GOV.UK Navigation mainstream browse A/B test (opens in a new tab) | Google Slides |
| January 2022 | Early-thinking overhaul design of Mainstream browse page, replacing miller columns, and merging Specialist topics into updated topic pages |
Topic page design implementation (opens in a new tab) | Google Docs |
| August 2018 | Mainstream Browse taxonomy was replaced with new site-wide taxonomy |
What is Mainstream Browse (opens in a new tab) | Google Docs |
| August 2018 | Mainstream Browse taxonomy was replaced with new site-wide taxonomy. This is the design sprint plan. |
Mainstream Browse design sprint (opens in a new tab) | Google Docs |
How to report an issue
If you happen to come across an issue:
- Report it on Github (opens in a new tab).
- Once the issue has been added, update this document by adding the title and Github Issue’s link.
- Give yourself a high-five.
Help improve this page
To help make sure that this page is useful, relevant and up to date, submit a GitHub issue (opens in a new tab) with your proposed updates.