UX Design

UX (User Experience)

The overall experience a user has with a product, including how easy and pleasant it is to use.

UI (User Interface)

The visual elements through which a user interacts with a product (buttons, menus, layouts).

Wireframe

A basic visual guide used to suggest the layout and placement of elements on a page.

Prototype

An interactive simulation of a final product used for testing and feedback.

Usability

How easy and efficient a product is to use.

Accessibility

Designing products so that people with disabilities can use them effectively.

Navigation

The way users move through a website or app.

Affordance

A property that shows users how to use something (e.g., a button that looks clickable).

Cognitive Load

The mental effort required to use a product or understand its content.

Consistency

Keeping similar elements uniform to help users predict outcomes and avoid confusion.

Heuristic Evaluation

A usability inspection method where experts evaluate a UI based on established principles.

Personas

Fictional characters created to represent different user types.

User Journey

The steps a user goes through to accomplish a goal in a product or service.

Information Architecture

The way content is organized and structured in a product.

Responsive Design

A design approach that ensures a product works well on both mobile and desktop devices.

Breakpoint

The screen size at which a responsive design adjusts its layout.

Media Query

A CSS technique used to apply styles depending on screen size or device type.

Contrast Ratio

The difference in color between text and its background, important for readability and accessibility.

Color Scheme

A planned combination of colors used in a product’s interface.

Visual Hierarchy

The arrangement of elements in a way that implies importance.

Design Thinking

A user

Iterative Design

A cyclic process of prototyping, testing, analyzing, and refining a product.

User

Centered Design

Alt Text

Descriptive text added to images for screen readers to assist visually impaired users.

Screen Reader

A software tool that reads out digital content for visually impaired users.

Section 508

A U.S. law requiring federal agencies to make electronic content accessible to people with disabilities.

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)

A set of standards for making web content more accessible.

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)

U.S. law prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities.

Creative Commons

A licensing system that allows creators to share work with certain permissions.

Fair Use

A legal doctrine allowing limited use of copyrighted material without permission in specific situations.

Copyright

A legal right that protects creators from unauthorized use of their original work.

User Flow

The path a user follows to complete a task on a website or app.

Call to Action (CTA)

A button or link that encourages the user to take a specific action.

Mockup

A high

Touch Target

The area on a touchscreen interface meant to be tapped; must be large enough to be usable.

Mental Model

A user’s thought process or expectations about how something should work.

Whitespace

Empty space in a design used to reduce clutter and improve readability.

Hierarchy

An arrangement that emphasizes more important elements over less important ones.

Empathy Map

A tool to understand the user’s feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.

Grid System

A layout structure used to align and organize content on a page.

Interaction Design

The design of the interactive aspects of a product (transitions, animations, clicks, etc.).

Feedback

Responses from a system that inform users about what’s happening (e.g., loading spinners, error messages).

Error Prevention

Designing interfaces to prevent user mistakes (e.g., confirming before deleting).