WhatsApp has just deployed an update which adds an interesting new feature to the application: a navigation bar which was previously only available to beta users.
WhatsApp has rolled out a new navigation bar for Android users. The navigation bar at the bottom of the screen, which has been available in beta for some time, is now available to all users on the stable WhatsApp channel.
After a somewhat turbulent beta period where the navigation bar appeared and disappeared several times, it finally found its permanent place in the main version of WhatsApp.
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How does the new navigation bar work on WhatsApp?
The new interface offers quick access to the main features of WhatsApp thanks to four tabs: Discussions, News, Communities and Calls. In the previous menu, the Communities tab was less visible than the other main functions. From now on, all four options are placed on equal footing at the bottom of the menuallowing you to seamlessly switch between messaging, status updates, group interactions, and voice and video calls.
WhatsApp described the revamped bottom menu bar as being “closer to your thumbs and easier on the eyes.” If we compare it to that of the previous version, we actually see that this new navigation method is intuitive and ergonomicespecially on larger phones where the top menu became increasingly difficult to access with one hand.
Bottom navigation bars are gaining popularity in mobile apps because they reduce the effort needed to reach controls at the top of the screen. With a simple swipe, you can now move from one key section of WhatsApp to another without having to reposition your hand or try to reach the buttons at the top of the screen with your fingers.
All users should see the new sliding menu bar appear on their Android devices with the latest WhatsApp update installed. Beyond this UI improvement, beta testers also spotted other upcoming features, like a “Suggested Contacts” section in the Chats tab, which makes it easy to find potential contacts.