A directional navigation system implemented in layout managers separate from the containers and/or components to which each layout manager is assigned. Components at the container and/or component level are responsible for the tasks of receiving and identifying user generated directional navigation input and of assigning a new input focus at the direction of a layout manager. A navigator portion of one or more layout managers are responsible for the tasks of processing the directional navigation input to identify the next nearest component that can take input focus in response to the user generated directional navigation input. Multiple layout managers are called upon to identify the next nearest component that can take input focus if the magnitude of a requested input focus change is beyond the scope of the set of components to which any one layout manager has responsibility.