Which layout style is primarily characterized by distinct sections for content and navigation?

The multicolumn layout is primarily characterized by distinct sections for content and navigation, making it an effective choice for organizing information in a way that improves clarity and usability. This style allows designers to create separate vertical columns, which can help in grouping related content together, enhancing the overall structure of the webpage.

In a multicolumn layout, different columns can be dedicated to various types of information such as navigation links, articles, images, or advertisements. By separating these elements visually, it supports easier scanning and reading for users, particularly on pages with a lot of content. This layout is beneficial for responsive design as well, allowing content to adapt comfortably across various screen sizes while maintaining a clear distinction between navigation and content areas.

In contrast, other layouts have different characteristics. The box layout usually consists of rectangular sections without clear distinctions for navigation, while the single-column layout presents all content in a linear fashion, which may not effectively separate navigation from content. The fluid layout focuses on flexibility and adaptability of width rather than distinct separation, which may lead to less defined sections for navigation and content.