20 concepts.
A new perspective.
Behind every strong interface is a way of thinking that helps us understand people. Build your foundation with these 20 terms.
Usability
How easy a product is to learn and use.
Information Architecture
Organizing content so people can find and understand it.
Cognitive Load
The mental effort needed to complete a task.
User Research
Understanding people's needs and behaviors through evidence.
User Interview
Learning about people's experiences through open questions.
Persona
A profile representing shared needs found in research.
User Journey
The steps and touchpoints someone encounters on the way to a goal.
Task Flow
The sequence of steps needed to finish a specific task.
User Flow
How someone moves through a product using different paths and decisions.
Wireframe
A simple plan of a screen's content and layout before visual detail.
Prototype
An interactive model used to try out how an idea works.
Interaction Design
Designing people's actions in an interface and the responses they receive.
Visual Hierarchy
Showing the importance of content through size, position, and emphasis.
Accessibility
Making products usable by people with different abilities and needs.
Heuristic Evaluation
Reviewing an interface against established usability principles.
A/B Testing
Comparing how two design versions affect a specific goal.
Microinteraction
A small but meaningful interface response to one action.
Feedback
Information the system gives about an action or state.
Empty State
What an interface shows when there is no content yet.
Design System
Shared structures and rules that keep design decisions consistent.
Not to memorize terms,
but to ask better questions.
Good user experience is more than beautiful screens. It starts with understanding what people need, organizing information well, and making every step clearer.