GOV.UK Design System Pagination
Documents pagination navigation with previous and next links, current page using aria-current, optional page numbers and ellipses, landmark labelling, and filter/sort behavior across the whole result set.
What this source can teach
Use this source to study a complete public-service task and the guidance that supports its implementation.
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- Trace the connection. Use the claim notes below to see how this site applies the source to specific patterns.
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Pattern Decisions This Source Supports
| Pattern | Supported decision | Required contract | Claim note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infinite scroll with no footer access | Flag this anti-pattern when automatic loading prevents reliable access to footer links, page end, support routes, legal links, feedback, or other bottom-of-page utilities. | Users can reach footer utilities without racing automatic loading. | Supports pagination as a bounded alternative with current page, previous/next, and known result position. |
| Pagination | Choose pagination when result order, bounded position, and resumability matter. | Changing page updates the collection while preserving the user's query or filters. | GOV.UK documents previous/next, current page with aria-current, pagination landmarks, ellipses, and applying filters or sorts to the whole list. |
| Pagination without current page | Flag this anti-pattern when a pagination set has no visible current page, no aria-current or equivalent current-state text, or more than one item that appears current. | Each pagination region has one owner collection and one current page or current range. | Supports current page, previous/next, ellipses, pagination landmark labelling, and filter or sort behavior across the whole result set. |
Comparisons supported by this source
- Back link vs breadcrumbs vs pagination
GOV.UK pagination guidance distinguishes ordered collection navigation from transaction backtracking.
- Infinite scroll with no footer access vs feed vs pagination vs card list vs skip link
Supports bounded result traversal with current page and previous/next as an alternative when position and footer access matter.
- Pagination without current page vs pagination vs breadcrumbs vs step navigation vs feed
Supports current page, previous/next, ellipses, labelled pagination landmarks, and whole-list filter or sort behavior.
- Step navigation vs back link vs pagination
GOV.UK pagination guidance supports the distinction between ordered collection traversal and task-step progress.
- Tabs vs segmented control vs pagination
GOV.UK documents current pages, previous and next links, ellipses, and applying filter or sort changes to the whole paginated list.
Evidence Role
This source is treated as service-manual evidence. Its value comes from the specific claims and setting described above.
Publisher: GOV.UK Design System. Last checked: .