# Navigation basics ## Navigation basics Conduit uses routes to take you from the home feed to filtered articles, individual articles, and author profiles. A tag is a label that filters the article list. A profile is the page for one author and that author's articles. The article and profile routes include a value identifying the record you want to open. | If you need to… | Go to | | --- | --- | | Browse all articles | **Global Feed** on Home | | Browse articles for a tag | A tag in **Popular Tags** | | Read one article | **Read more...** in an article preview | | Open an author's profile | The author's username in article details | | See a profile's articles | **My Articles** | | See a profile's saved articles | **Favorited Articles** | | Understand the Home surface | [Understanding the interface](doc:understanding-the-interface) | | Find articles in detail | [Discover articles](doc:discover-articles) | | Read an article in detail | [Read an article](doc:read-an-article) | | View a profile in detail | [View a profile](doc:view-a-profile) | | View favorited articles in detail | [View favorited articles](doc:view-favorited-articles) | ## Before you start Home is the starting surface for global and tag-filtered browsing. Sign-in is required for **Your Feed**; if you open the following feed without being signed in, the application sends you to `/login`. Article and profile destinations need an existing article slug or profile username in the route. | Have this ready | Why it matters | | --- | --- | | Your sign-in state | It determines whether **Your Feed** and the authenticated header links appear. | | An existing article | Its route uses the article's slug. | | An existing profile | Its route uses the profile's username, with a favorites path for saved articles. | ## Find a destination The header is the quickest way to move between the main destinations. Its links change with your sign-in state. **Prerequisites** - Know whether you are signed in. **Steps** 1. In the table below, select the header destination that matches your need. | If you need to… | Select | | --- | --- | | Open Home | **conduit** or **Home** | | Open sign-in | **Sign in** | | Open registration | **Sign up** | | Create an article while signed in | **New Article** | | Open settings while signed in | **Settings** | | Open your profile while signed in | Your username | **Result:** The selected header destination is open. ## Understand Home and profile navigation Home is the place to choose an article feed or a tag; a profile is the place to switch between articles written by that profile and articles saved by that profile. | Surface | What it provides | | --- | --- | | **Your Feed** | Articles from profiles you follow; available when you are signed in. | | **Global Feed** | The general article feed. | | **Popular Tags** | Links that filter Home to the selected tag. | | **My Articles** | Articles associated with the profile. | | **Favorited Articles** | Articles saved by the profile. | | `Loading profile...` | The profile is still loading. | | `This profile could not be loaded. Please try again later.` | The profile could not be loaded. | | `Loading articles...` | The article list is still loading. | | `No articles are here... yet.` | The current article list has no articles. | ## Navigate to content Use the control that matches the content you want to reach. **Prerequisites** - For a specific article or profile, know which existing record you want to open. **Steps** 1. On Home, choose one destination from this table. | If you need to… | Select | | --- | --- | | Open the general article list | **Global Feed** | | Open articles from profiles you follow | **Your Feed** | | Filter the list by a tag | A tag under **Popular Tags** | | Open an article from the list | **Read more...** | 2. On an article, select the author's username to open that author's profile. 3. On a profile, select **My Articles**. 4. On a profile, select **Favorited Articles**. 5. On a list with more than one page, select the page number you need. **Result:** The selected feed, tag, article, profile, or profile article view is on screen. ## Choose the right navigation branch The available route depends on the question you are trying to answer and, for some destinations, your sign-in state. **Prerequisites** - Decide whether you need the general feed, followed profiles' articles, a tag filter, an article, or a profile view. **Steps** 1. In the table below, select the control that matches your need. | If you need to… | Select | | --- | --- | | Open the general list | **Global Feed** | | Open articles from profiles you follow | **Your Feed** | | Open a tag-filtered list | The tag under **Popular Tags** | | Open an article's full content | **Read more...** | | Open the author's profile | The author's username in the article details | | Open the profile's own articles | **My Articles** | | Open the profile's saved articles | **Favorited Articles** | **Result:** The screen matches the work you selected: a feed, a tag-filtered feed, an article, or a profile article view. ## When navigation content does not load The messages below tell you whether a profile or article list is still loading, empty, or unable to load. API validation text appears as returned for the current request. | What you see | What to do | | --- | --- | | `Loading profile...` | Wait for the profile to finish loading. | | `This profile could not be loaded. Please try again later.` | Try the profile again later. | | `Loading articles...` | Wait for the article list to finish loading. | | `No articles are here... yet.` | Choose another feed, tag, or profile tab. | | `Your feed is empty. Go to the Global Feed to discover articles.` | Select **Global Feed**. | | API validation text | Follow the instruction in the message returned for the current request. | ## Continue from the destination Navigation ends when the destination that owns the next task is open. **Prerequisites** - Have the relevant destination on screen. **Steps** 1. Continue according to the destination on screen. | If you are on… | Continue with | | --- | --- | | Home or a tag-filtered feed | [Discover articles](doc:discover-articles) | | An individual article | [Read an article](doc:read-an-article) | | A profile | [View a profile](doc:view-a-profile) | | **Favorited Articles** | [View favorited articles](doc:view-favorited-articles) | **Result:** You are on the page that documents the work available from the destination.