Sitemaps and User flow

​A Sitemap and User flow are not the same. Many designers confuse a Sitemap with user flow and vice versa. Although both illustrate page flow, but at different levels and for different purposes.

​A Sitemap and User flow are not the same. Many designers confuse a Sitemap with user flow and vice versa. Although both illustrate page flow, but at different levels and for different purposes.
 
A sitemap can be likened to looking at a map of a territory. It gives a bird's eye view of everything. This overview gives a general direction of where you can go. It is more of a high-level view which allows you to feel the size and complexity of a site.
 
User flow, on the other hand, gives a low-level view which allows you to feel how much time and effort it takes to complete a task. It can be likened to looking at directions from one point to another. Also, you can see which routes to take, where to turn, and miles it takes to get there.
 
Although a Sitemap and User flows reveal different information, however, they share some properties. Such as:
·         They both help plan a site
·         They can be used alone or together
·         They both can be used to improve the usability
·         They both illustrate page flow
·         They both make building sites easier

​There are also several ways in which they differ. Such as:
·         They have a different impact on UX
·         They have different scopes
·         They are utilized at different parts of the planning process
·         User flow is more in-depth and has more options
·         One focuses on navigation, another on tasks.
 
In conclusion, both are valuable assets. A sitemap gives a whole picture which helps in ensuring the developer and designers are on the same page. User flow gives designers the tools to empathize with users.

Author

Ademiju James 
Project Manager 
Brave Achievers Incubator Program