UX Glossary · UknowUX

A

A/B testing: Showing two versions of a design to different groups of users and comparing which one performs better against a chosen measure. Learn more about A/B testing (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Accessibility Compliance: Meeting recognised accessibility standards, such as WCAG, so people with disabilities can use a product. Learn more about Accessibility Compliance (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Active listening: Giving a participant your full attention, reflecting back what you heard and asking follow-ups, so their meaning is understood rather than assumed. Learn more about Active listening (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Affordance: A property of an object that signals how it can be used, such as a button that looks pressable. Learn more about Affordance (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Agile UX: Practising user research and design in short iterative cycles that fit alongside agile software development. Learn more about Agile UX (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

B

Backlog: An ordered list of work items a team plans to do, from which upcoming tasks are picked. Learn more about Backlog (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Benchmark: A reference measurement, such as a previous score or a competitor's result, used to judge how a design performs. Learn more about Benchmark (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Benchmarking Research: Measuring a product's usability or experience at set intervals, or against competitors, to track change over time. Learn more about Benchmarking Research (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Between-Subjects Design: A study in which each participant experiences only one condition, and groups are compared with each other. Learn more about Between-Subjects Design (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Binary Metric: A measure with only two outcomes, such as success or failure, yes or no. Learn more about Binary Metric (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

C

Categorical Metric: A measure that sorts results into named groups, such as device type or error category, rather than numbers. Learn more about Categorical Metric (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Center of a Dataset: A typical value that summarises where the data sits, most often the mean, median or mode. Learn more about Center of a Dataset (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Confidence Interval: A range of values that likely contains the true figure for the whole population, based on a sample. Learn more about Confidence Interval (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Confidence Level: How sure you want to be that a confidence interval captures the true value, commonly 95 percent. Learn more about Confidence Level (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Confounding Variable: An outside factor that influences the result and can be mistaken for the effect you are testing. Learn more about Confounding Variable (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Context of use: The users, tasks, equipment and environment in which a product is actually used. Learn more about Context of use (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Continuous Metric: A measure that can take any value on a scale, such as time on task. Learn more about Continuous Metric (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Counterbalancing: Varying the order in which participants meet conditions so order effects do not skew the results. Learn more about Counterbalancing (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Cross-platform compatibility: A product working consistently across different devices, browsers and operating systems. Learn more about Cross-platform compatibility (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Customer activation: The moment a new user first gets real value from a product and is likely to keep using it. Learn more about Customer activation (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

D

Data saturation: The point in qualitative research where new participants stop revealing new themes. Learn more about Data saturation (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Dependent Variable: The outcome you measure in a study, which may change in response to what you vary. Learn more about Dependent Variable (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Design Thinking: A human-centred approach that moves through understanding people, defining the problem, generating ideas, prototyping and testing. Learn more about Design Thinking (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Digital personalization: Tailoring content, layout or features to an individual user based on their behaviour or preferences. Learn more about Digital personalization (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Dirty testing: A quick, informal test run with minimal preparation to catch obvious problems early. Learn more about Dirty testing (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Discrete Metric: A measure made of whole counts, such as the number of errors or clicks. Learn more about Discrete Metric (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Domain Expert: A person with deep knowledge of a specific field, consulted to make sure a design fits real practice. Learn more about Domain Expert (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Drag handle: A small control, often a grip icon, that shows an item can be picked up and moved. Learn more about Drag handle (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

E

Edge case: An unusual or extreme situation that sits at the limits of normal use, such as very long names or no data. Learn more about Edge case (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Enterprise Organization: A large company, typically with complex structures, many users and demanding security and compliance needs. Learn more about Enterprise Organization (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Experience Sampling: Prompting people at random moments to report what they are doing and feeling, capturing experience as it happens. Learn more about Experience Sampling (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Expert review: An evaluation of a design by specialists who judge it against experience and best practice, without user testing. Learn more about Expert review (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
External Validity: How well the findings of a study hold true for people and situations outside the study itself. Learn more about External Validity (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

F

False consensus effect: The tendency to assume other people think and behave the way you do. Learn more about False consensus effect (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Five Second Test: A quick test where users see a design briefly and then say what they remember, revealing first impressions. Learn more about Five Second Test (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Focus+context: A display technique that shows a detailed area of interest while keeping the surrounding overview in view. Learn more about Focus+context (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Formative research: Research done during design to shape and improve a product before it is finished. Learn more about Formative research (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

G

Guerilla Testing: Informal testing with passers-by in public places, trading depth for speed and low cost. Learn more about Guerilla Testing (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

H

Haptic Feedback: Physical sensations, such as vibration, that confirm an action on a device. Learn more about Haptic Feedback (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Heuristic Review: An evaluation that checks a design against recognised usability principles to find likely problems. Learn more about Heuristic Review (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

I

I-beam pointer: The text-shaped cursor that appears over selectable or editable text. Learn more about I-beam pointer (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Incentive: A reward offered to participants in exchange for taking part in research. Learn more about Incentive (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Independent Variable: The factor a researcher deliberately changes in a study to see its effect. Learn more about Independent Variable (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Information Design: Presenting information so it is clear, organised and easy to understand and act on. Learn more about Information Design (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Interaction Design: Designing how people and products respond to each other, including controls, feedback and flows. Learn more about Interaction Design (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Internal Validity: How confident you can be that the effect seen in a study was caused by what you changed and not something else. Learn more about Internal Validity (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
ISO 9126: An older international standard describing software quality, including usability, reliability and efficiency. Learn more about ISO 9126 (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Iterative Design: Improving a design through repeated cycles of making, testing and refining. Learn more about Iterative Design (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

J

Jobs-To-Be-Done (JTBD) Framework: A way of understanding why people use a product by focusing on the progress they are trying to make. Learn more about Jobs-To-Be-Done (JTBD) Framework (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

K

Key Performance Indicator (KPI): A chosen measure that shows how well a team or product is progressing toward a goal. Learn more about Key Performance Indicator (KPI) (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

L

Likert scale: A rating question where people state how strongly they agree or disagree with a statement. Learn more about Likert scale (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Low fidelity: A rough, simple representation of a design that focuses on ideas and structure rather than polish. Learn more about Low fidelity (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Low fidelity prototype (lo-fi prototype): A quick, basic mock-up, often on paper or in simple boxes, used to explore and test ideas cheaply. Learn more about Low fidelity prototype (lo-fi prototype) (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

M

Margin of Error: The amount by which a survey or test result might differ from the true value for the whole population. Learn more about Margin of Error (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Menu-driven interface: An interface where users make choices by selecting from lists of options. Learn more about Menu-driven interface (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Metric: A number used to track and compare some aspect of a product or user behaviour. Learn more about Metric (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Middle market: Mid-sized companies, larger than small businesses but smaller than large enterprises. Learn more about Middle market (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Minimum viable product (MVP): The simplest version of a product that can be released to learn from real users. Learn more about Minimum viable product (MVP) (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Multi-channel testing: Evaluating an experience across several touchpoints, such as web, mobile and in person. Learn more about Multi-channel testing (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

N

NASA-TLX (NASA Task Load Index): A questionnaire that rates how much mental, physical and time effort a task demands. Learn more about NASA-TLX (NASA Task Load Index) (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Natural language interface: An interface people control by typing or speaking in everyday language. Learn more about Natural language interface (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Navigation Design: Planning the labels, structure and paths that help people find their way around a product. Learn more about Navigation Design (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Net Promoter Score (NPS): A score from asking how likely people are to recommend a product, calculated from promoters minus detractors. Learn more about Net Promoter Score (NPS) (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
NOIR statistics: The four levels of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio. Learn more about NOIR statistics (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Normal Distribution: A symmetrical bell-shaped spread of data where most values cluster around the average. Learn more about Normal Distribution (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

O

Observed Score: The value you actually measure, which combines the true value with some measurement error. Learn more about Observed Score (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Onboarding: The steps that help new users get started and understand the value of a product. Learn more about Onboarding (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

P

P-Value: The probability of seeing a result at least as extreme as yours if there were really no effect. Learn more about P-Value (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Parametric searching: Searching by choosing values for specific attributes, such as price range or size. Learn more about Parametric searching (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Performance Metric: A measure of what users actually do, such as success rate, time or errors. Learn more about Performance Metric (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Persona: A fictional but research-based profile of a typical user, used to keep real needs in mind. Learn more about Persona (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Population (or User Population): The entire group of people a study or product is meant to represent. Learn more about Population (or User Population) (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Portrait vs. Landscape: The two screen orientations: taller than wide, or wider than tall. Learn more about Portrait vs. Landscape (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Post-Task Survey: Questions asked right after a participant completes a task, while it is fresh. Learn more about Post-Task Survey (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Post-Test Survey: Questions asked at the end of a session about the overall experience. Learn more about Post-Test Survey (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Practical Significance: Whether a measured difference is large enough to matter in the real world. Learn more about Practical Significance (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Prioritization: Deciding which problems or features to address first, based on value, effort and risk. Learn more about Prioritization (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Product: The thing a team makes and offers to people, whether physical, digital or a service. Learn more about Product (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Product Critique: A structured discussion where a team gives feedback on a product or design. Learn more about Product Critique (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Product Designer: A designer who works across research, interaction and visual design to shape a whole product. Learn more about Product Designer (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Product Development Cycle: The stages a product moves through, from idea to launch and ongoing improvement. Learn more about Product Development Cycle (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Product Differentiation: What makes a product stand out from alternatives in ways people value. Learn more about Product Differentiation (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Product Experience: The overall impression people have from using a product across every touchpoint. Learn more about Product Experience (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Product Positioning: How a product is placed in people's minds relative to alternatives. Learn more about Product Positioning (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Product Strategy: The plan for how a product will achieve its goals and create value over time. Learn more about Product Strategy (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Product Vision: A clear description of the future a product aims to create. Learn more about Product Vision (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Product-Market Fit: When a product satisfies strong demand in a market, shown by people choosing and keeping it. Learn more about Product-Market Fit (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Pull-down menu: A list of options that opens downward when a control is selected. Learn more about Pull-down menu (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

Q

Qualitative insights: Understanding of why people think and act as they do, drawn from observation and conversation. Learn more about Qualitative insights (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Quantitative insights: Understanding drawn from numbers, such as how many people did something and how often. Learn more about Quantitative insights (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

R

Rapid Prototyping: Building quick versions of a design to test ideas and learn fast. Learn more about Rapid Prototyping (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Rating Scale: A question that asks people to pick a point on a range to express an opinion or experience. Learn more about Rating Scale (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Redlining: Marking up a design with notes and measurements to explain changes to developers. Learn more about Redlining (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Remote focus groups: Group discussions held online instead of in the same room. Learn more about Remote focus groups (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Research Objective: The specific question a study is meant to answer. Learn more about Research Objective (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

S

Sample: The smaller group of people actually studied, chosen to represent the wider population. Learn more about Sample (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Scannability: How easily people can pick out key information by skimming. Learn more about Scannability (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Scroll Depth: How far down a page people scroll before leaving. Learn more about Scroll Depth (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Self-Reported Metric: A measure based on what people say about their own experience, such as satisfaction ratings. Learn more about Self-Reported Metric (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Semantic-Differential Scale: A rating scale between two opposite words, such as simple and complex. Learn more about Semantic-Differential Scale (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Single-Ease Question (SEQ): A one-question rating of how easy a task was, asked straight after the task. Learn more about Single-Ease Question (SEQ) (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Sitemap: A diagram or list showing the pages of a site and how they are organised. Learn more about Sitemap (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Skeuomorphism: A design style that imitates real-world objects, such as textures and shadows that mimic leather or paper. Learn more about Skeuomorphism (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Skewed Distribution: A spread of data that leans to one side, with a long tail in one direction. Learn more about Skewed Distribution (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Skip Navigation: A link at the top of a page that lets keyboard and screen reader users jump past repeated menus. Learn more about Skip Navigation (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Small business: A company with a small team and limited resources, often with simple structures. Learn more about Small business (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
SMART Goal Setting: Setting goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. Learn more about SMART Goal Setting (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Standard Deviation: A number showing how spread out values are around the average. Learn more about Standard Deviation (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Synthetic metric: A figure calculated from several measures to give a single summary score. Learn more about Synthetic metric (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

T

Task completion time: How long a participant takes to finish a task. Learn more about Task completion time (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Taxonomy: A system for classifying and naming things into a structured hierarchy. Learn more about Taxonomy (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Tear-off menu: A menu that can be detached from its bar and kept open as a floating panel. Learn more about Tear-off menu (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Three click rule: The unproven idea that people should reach any content within three clicks; clarity of path matters more than count. Learn more about Three click rule (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Tooltip: A small label that appears on hover or focus to explain a control. Learn more about Tooltip (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
True Score: The real value of what you are measuring, free of error. Learn more about True Score (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

U

Usability Evaluation: Assessing how easy and effective a product is to use, through testing or expert review. Learn more about Usability Evaluation (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Usability lab: A dedicated room set up with equipment to observe and record usability sessions. Learn more about Usability lab (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
User Engagement: How actively and meaningfully people interact with a product over time. Learn more about User Engagement (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
User Experience: How a person feels and what they do when they interact with a product, service or system. Learn more about User Experience (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
User Interface (UI): The visible and interactive parts of a product through which people use it. Learn more about User Interface (UI) (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
User Journey: The path a person follows over time while trying to reach a goal, with their actions and feelings along the way. Learn more about User Journey (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
User Session: A single visit or period of continuous use of a product by one person. Learn more about User Session (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
User Story: A short statement of a need from the user's point of view, such as what they want to do and why. Learn more about User Story (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
User Testing Script: The planned wording and steps a moderator follows so every session is consistent. Learn more about User Testing Script (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
User Testing Survey: A questionnaire used to collect participants' opinions before, during or after testing. Learn more about User Testing Survey (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
UX Personas: Research-based user profiles that help teams design for real needs. Learn more about UX Personas (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
UX wireframe: A simple layout drawing showing structure and content placement without visual styling. Learn more about UX wireframe (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

V

Value proposition: A clear statement of the benefit a product offers and why someone should choose it. Learn more about Value proposition (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Vanity Metrics: Numbers that look impressive, such as page views, but do not show real progress. Learn more about Vanity Metrics (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Variability: How much results differ from one another within a set of data. Learn more about Variability (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗

W

Wireflow: A diagram that combines wireframes with arrows to show screens and the flow between them. Learn more about Wireflow (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Within-Subjects Design: A study in which every participant experiences all conditions, so each person is compared with themselves. Learn more about Within-Subjects Design (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗
Wizard of oz prototype: A prototype that appears to work automatically while a person secretly performs the behaviour behind the scenes. Learn more about Wizard of oz prototype (opens UXtweak in a new tab) ↗