Some web sites ''work'' and some don't. This book shows how to use both aesthetics and mechanics to design distinctive, cohesive web sites that ''work.'' Most books on web development concentrate either on the aesthetics or the mechanics of a site. This book focuses on the framework that holds the two together. Information Architecture for the World Wide Web shows how to apply principles of architecture and library science to design web sites and intranets that are easy to use, manage, and expand. It's for novice designers who want to avoid the pitfalls of poorly designed sites; experienced designers who've created sites but realize something ''is missing''; and programmers and administrators who are comfortable with HTML, CGI, and Java but want to organize their web pages into a cohesive site. Special attention is given to:

• The process behind architecting a large, complex site
• Web site hierarchy design and organization
• Techniques for making a site easier to search