Navigation template

The Navigation template presents a base map and optional routing information.

When a user is driving without text-based turn-by-turn directions, apps can show a full-screen map updated in real time. During active navigation, apps can surface optional cards with maneuvers and surface details, as well as navigation alerts.

This template can be embedded in the Tab template to provide tabbed navigation.

Includes:

• Full-screen base map drawn by app
• Routing card (optional) with upcoming maneuvers
• Travel estimate card (optional) with estimated time of arrival (ETA), time to destination, and remaining distance (or an alternate information display with custom text and icon options)
• Action strip with up to 4 app actions, visible only as described in Visibility of action strips
• Optional map action strip with up to 4 buttons for map interactivity

Map display in the cluster

During active navigation, apps can display a map in the instrument cluster using the Navigation template. The cluster is the area of the dashboard behind the steering wheel. This option is currently available only for Early Access Partners.

Maps in the cluster are intended to be:

• Independently rendered, but may copy the main display if desired.
• Non-interactive. Interactive elements such as buttons are removed.
• Dark theme. Drawing a dark-themed version of the cluster map is strongly recommended, to reduce the potential for attracting the driver’s attention away from the road.

The app's map in the cluster will display only at certain times, dependent on such factors as navigation state, vehicle OEM preference (in AAOS), and what is showing on the main display (in AAP).

For a sample user flow involving the cluster, see View a map in the cluster.

Note: For AAOS, vehicle OEMs can opt to show their own turn-by-turn instructions in the cluster, instead of the app's. When navigation ends, they can also decide whether the cluster will keep showing the navigation app's map or revert to the default map.

Cluster and center screen examples

Here, the app displays a close-up map in the cluster, while displaying a route overview map in the center screen.

Here, the app’s map continues to show in the cluster while the user adjusts car settings on the center screen.

Routing card details

When the routing card is in routing state (as opposed to message state), it shows the following information:

1. Current step: includes icon (typically a direction arrow), distance, and cue text (which may include image spans such as route markers)
2. Lane guidance (optional): shown either as simple lane-assist images or as a larger junction image (flexible size with maximum height of 200dp)
3. Next step (optional): includes icon and cue, and can appear only at the bottom of a routing card that doesn’t include a junction image

Another option in routing state is for the routing card to display a spinner animation (not shown here) to indicate transient states such as loading, calculating, or rerouting.

In some circumstances, routing information can instead be displayed in a floating navigation bar, as shown in Add a stop while driving.

Message state of routing card

When the routing card is in message state, it displays a message instead of routing directions. The message can be used to convey situations such as arrival at a destination or route failures.

In the message state, the routing card can include:

• A non-empty routing-related message up to 2 lines in length
• An image or icon (optional)

Navigation notifications: Turn-by-turn (TBT) and regular

TBT notifications: When an app provides text-based TBT directions, it must also trigger TBT notifications. These notifications are used to expose TBT directions outside of the Navigation template. Apps can customize TBT notification background color for greater visibility.

Regular notifications: To communicate other navigation-related messages, such as changes in route settings, navigation apps can also send regular (non-TBT) notifications (as shown here) or use navigation alerts. These can appear even when the routing card is displayed.

Navigation alerts

Navigation alerts provide a brief, temporary message and optional actions in a format that doesn't block the navigation route. The content should be simple and relevant to the navigation task. For example, the alert might describe a change in traffic conditions or ask if the driver can pick up a customer.

Each alert includes:

• Title and optional subtitle
• Icon (optional)
• Progress indicator – either a bar or (optionally) built into a timed button
• Up to 2 buttons, where a button can be designated as primary or as a timed button (with a progress indicator, as shown in the previous figure)

Alerts can be dismissed by any of the following:

• User selection of any action
• Time-out after X seconds (configurable)
• App dismissal without user action

Note: Don't use navigation alerts to show primary navigation information, such as upcoming turns or arrival time. For those types of information, use the routing card or trip estimate card

Navigation template examples

Full-screen map when navigation and map interactivity are not occurring (Android Auto example)

Routing card with travel estimate, action strip (at top), and FAB (at bottom right) during active navigation.

Navigation template UX requirements

App developers:

MUST	Show at least 1 maneuver on a routing card.
MUST	Include at least one action button on the action strip to enable user flows.
MUST	Include a pan button in the map action strip if the app supports panning gestures.
SHOULD	Use a dark theme on maps displayed in the cluster.
SHOULD	Include only buttons related to map interactivity on the map action strip (for example, compass, recentering, or 3D mode).
SHOULD	Include a button to end navigation when providing turn-by-turn directions.
SHOULD	Use symbols that are standardized or consistent with international or country-specific symbols.
SHOULD	Use the junction image only to show content relevant to navigation, spanning card width with image.
SHOULD	Provide lane images with transparent backgrounds to blend with the routing-card background.
SHOULD	Use alerts only for non-distracting information relevant to the current navigation task.
MAY	Display short supporting text under a lane (Roboto 24 recommended) and lower contrast ratio for non-highlighted lanes.
MAY	Show 2 maneuvers on a routing card when they occur in rapid succession.
MAY	Include images such as route markers in routing-card text (current step and next step).
MAY	Show a full map when the user is driving without text-based turn-by-turn directions or is in free-drive mode.
MAY	Choose to show or the hide routing card and trip estimate components as needed.
MAY	Draw driving-related details and alerts on the map, such as current speed, speed limit, and camera ahead.
MAY	Customize routing-card background color and change it during the navigation session to reflect road type or other relevant conditions.