What is Pagination in UI Design and How to Use it?

Pagination is an important UI element that every UI/UX designer should be familiar with. In this article, we will discuss what it is, how it acts, and when it is most appropriate to integrate it into a UI design.

Organization and accessibility are a essential parts of designing. Whether we are working on a website or an app, and no matter what type these are, as UI UX designers, we need to make sure that we offer an accessible and enjoyable user experience - and organization plays a crucial role in this.

An organization can refer to many aspects when it comes to the UI UX design world. For example, if we were working on the design for a fashion app, we would need to have all the clothing items separated into clear categories, a section dedicated to delivery methods, and many other aspects.

Pagination is part of the organization process in many web pages we interact with. They have been popular for quite some time due to the simplicity and familiarity they present, which enhances user interfaces. But first of all, let’s take a look at what exactly pagination refers to in UI/UX design.

Pagination is the UI element that allows us to divide larger chunks of content into smaller sections that span across multiple pages. They are a very popular means of segmentation for websites and apps that have many elements on them.

The most common example of pagination use is for e-commerce websites. For example, let’s say you were scrolling through the Zara app - all the items that are available for sale are distributed over multiple pages so that it is easier for you to visualize them. 

‍

Types of Pagination

‍

• Default: This is the most basic type of pagination that can be applied to a website or app. It is mostly applied at the bottom of a list.

• With Page Jump: Compared to the default pagination, this adds a feature of clicking on small arrows to choose the page.

• With Arrows Only: This type of pagination showcases multiple arrows; some can come in a simple form, some double, depending on how far we are navigating between the sequence of pages.

• With Labels: The most complex type of pagination adds labels to the numbers and arrows in order to be more descriptive.

1. Size

In general, pagination can be displayed in extra small, small, and medium sizes. As UI/UX designers, we need to make sure that the size we apply to pagination is in accordance with the rest of the content on the page. Another aspect related to size to consider during the design process is that it should never overshadow the priority content on the mother page.

2. Number

A single pagination should be used per page because we do not want to risk confusing users and negatively affecting the UX design. There are also very few cases in which we would even need to consider including more than one pagination per page - if our design was correct.

3. Position 

Pagination is a UI design element, therefore, it needs to respect visual coherence. This is why we should place pagination in the same spot on every page. By respecting the same positioning, users are trained to identify elements with more ease. 

4. Labels

In the case of pagination, labels should only be adjoined when they simplify the meaning and deliver it faster to the users. Oftentimes, adding labels to pagination may just be redundant, as numbers and arrows are familiar to most users.

• Multiple Elements. The basic use of pagination is applied to web pages and applications that contain a wide range of content. By implementing pagination, users will find it more approachable to navigate through long lists of content, such as blogs that post articles regularly.
• E-commerce. By far one of the most frequent usages for pagination is in the case of e-commerce platforms. For example, online clothing stores implement pagination because it is much more intuitive and accessible to navigate long lists of fashion items if you have a clear separation between them.
• Integrated with Header. Pagination allows the integration of headers into the website or app. And headers are crucial for the inclusion of various data, such as contacts and helpful links.
• Good Conversion. When users are searching for something specific within a list of results, pagination is great for conversion rates. This can be attributed to the fac t that paginated user interfaces provide 
• User Experience. Pagination can often enhance UX because it simplifies otherwise complicated processes for visitors. A good example of this is when scrolling through an e-commerce website. If you remember on what page an item you enjoyed was located, it is way easier to reassess it than if that web page had an infinite scroll layout instead.
• Do Not Use for Social Media. The primary instance in which pagination is not recommended is for websites and apps heavily based on user-generated content. Instead, the preferred alternative is the infinite scroll because it is more convenient and intuitive.

We at uinkits understand the importance of great user experiences and creating amazing UI designs. That’s why we’ve developed a Figma UI Kit with design components that include these essential UI elements that enable you to design intuitive and user-friendly interfaces effortlessly.

“You press the button, we do the rest.” – Kodak.

Inspired by this iconic tagline from Kodak, we believe in simplifying the design process for you. Our Figma UI Kit, uinkits, is a complete design system with UI components that allows you, as a UI UX designer, to create your products as quickly as pressing a button.

Our design system includes UI components, icons, variables, cards, buttons and everything you need for your design process. All you have to do is take your UI design component needed, and you’re ready to use it in your designs!