A/B testing
A/B testing commonly compares two webpage versions to determine which performs better based on specific metrics.
Glossary of UX terms
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A
Accessibility Compliance
Accessibility compliance ensures digital content is usable by all, fostering inclusivity and legal conformity.
Active listening
Active listening engages users during research, emphasizing empathy for user-centered design and improvement.
Affordance
Affordance is the perception of possible actions with an object or design. It improves usability, task efficiency, and engagement.
Agile UX
Agile UX integrates user experience into Agile development, emphasizing flexibility, feedback, and cross-functional collaboration.
B
Backlog
A backlog is a list of tasks, features, or bugs that need to be addressed in a project.
Benchmark
A benchmark is target or metric used for comparison purposes. This can be an goal for your website or a standard derived from an external study.
Benchmarking Research
Benchmarking research is a systematic process of comparing and measuring an organization's performance, practices, processes, or products against those of competitors or industry leaders in order to identify best practices and areas for improvement.
Between-Subjects Design
A research method where participants are divided into separate groups to test different conditions of a variable.
Binary Metric
type of measurement that results in one of two possible outcomes.
C
Categorical Metric
A type of measurement that is restricted to a specific, predetermined set of values.
Center of a Dataset
Refers to a single value that represents the entire dataset succinctly. Typically, this is the average, or arithmetic mean.
Cognitive walkthrough
A cognitive walkthrough is a usability evaluation technique used to test how easy it is for new users to perform certain actions on a website or application.
Confidence Interval
Represents the probable range within which the true value for an entire population lies.
Confidence Level
Researchers select this value, with common choices in UX research being 95% or 90%.
Confounding Variable
An unseen factor that affects both the independent and dependent variables, leading to a misleading association between them.
Context of use
The context of use defines where and how a product is used, guiding design through research and usability tests.
Continuous Metric
An example of a continuous metric is the time spent on a task, which can vary infinitely within its limits.
Counterbalancing
Counterbalancing in experimental research controls for the order of stimulus presentation's impact on the dependent variable.
Cross-platform compatibility
Cross-platform compatibility refers to the ability of a software application, website, or system to function effectively across different operating systems, browsers, or device types.
Customer activation
Customer activation propels users to engage beyond registration, essential during onboarding, new features, and long-term retention.
D
Data saturation
Data saturation occurs when the research process has gathered a sufficient amount of data to draw essential conclusions, and collecting additional data would no longer result in additional valuable insights.
Dependent Variable
The factor being measured in a study, anticipated to change in response to alterations in the independent variable.
Design Thinking
Design thinking uses empathy and innovation to create user-focused solutions via a five-step problem-solving process.
Digital personalization
Digital personalization refers to the process of adapting and customizing digital content and interactions to meet the needs of users.
Dirty testing
Dirty testing is a quick, informal usability method for rapid feedback on prototypes in real-world contexts.
Discrete Metric
Characterized by its ability to take on only specific, countable values.
Domain Expert
A domain expert is an individual with extensive knowledge or skills in a specific area or industry.
Drag handle
A drag handle is a UI element allowing users to move or adjust objects within software, often seen in design tools and spreadsheets.
E
Edge case
An edge case in UX design refers to a unique scenario or situation that deviates from the typical user experience.
Enterprise Organization
An enterprise organization refers to a large-scale business entity typically operating across multiple locations, regions, or even countries.
Experience Sampling
Experience sampling is a method for collecting real-time data on individuals' behaviors and thoughts in their everyday life.
Expert review
An expert review, also known as a heuristic evaluation or usability inspection, is a method used to evaluate the usability and user experience of a product or system.
External Validity
Refers to the extent to which a study's design and participants realistically mirror actual conditions.
F
False consensus effect
The false consensus effect makes individuals overestimate their preferences' popularity, influencing UX decisions and evaluations.
Five Second Test
A five second test is a user research technique used to evaluate the visual design and initial impressions of a website or product.
Focus+context
"Focus plus context" in UI offers a detailed view alongside broader information, aiding users with complex systems or datasets.
Formative research
Formative research guides early design stages by understanding user needs using methods like user interviews.
G
Guerilla Testing
Guerilla testing, also known as guerrilla testing or quick user testing, is an informal and rapid method of gathering user feedback on a product or design.
H
Haptic Feedback
Haptic feedback boosts digital interaction with touch. It's crucial for immersion, accessibility, and conveying user information.
Heuristic Review
Heuristic review is a UX method assessing designs against usability rules. It's cost-effective, improves navigation, and reduces user errors.
I
I-beam pointer
An I-beam pointer is a cursor shaped like the letter "I", typically seen over editable text areas, signaling that text can be inserted, edited, or selected.
Incentive
Incentives enhance research participation and feedback, using gift cards, early research access, and certificates.
Independent Variable
The factor that researchers actively change or control in a study to investigate its effects on the dependent variables.
Information Design
Information design is the practice of presenting information in a way that fosters efficient and effective understanding.
Interaction Design
Interaction Design (IxD) is a discipline within User Experience Design that involves designing the interactive behaviors of products and services.
Internal Validity
Refers to the degree to which a study's design effectively minimizes biases and ensures consistency across conditions and participant responses.
ISO 9126
ISO 9126 is a standard for software quality, defining functionality, reliability, usability, efficiency, maintainability, and portability.
Iterative Design
Iterative design involves refining designs in cycles of testing and feedback, reducing risks, and improving usability and efficiency.
J
Jobs-To-Be-Done (JTBD) Framework
The JTBD framework helps businesses address customers' needs to enhance product strategies.
K
Key Performance Indicator (KPI)
A Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is a measurable metric used to gauge a product or experience's success and effectiveness.
L
Likert scale
A Likert scale gauges respondent attitudes using statements and typically employs 5 or 7-point response options, offering easy analysis.
Low fidelity
Low fidelity (lo-fi) in design refers to a simplified, abstract representation using basic shapes and minimal detail.
Low fidelity prototype (lo-fi prototype)
A low-fidelity prototype is a basic and simplified representation of a product or design concept.
M
Margin of Error
The margin of error represents half the breadth of a confidence interval associated with a specific metric.
Menu-driven interface
A menu-driven interface offers organized navigation, ideal for non-tech users and complex systems, ensuring guided, quick interactions.
Middle market
Mid-market refers to a segment of the business market that falls between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large corporations.
Minimum viable product (MVP)
An MVP is a basic product for early feedback, enabling swift launches with limited resources and testing market fit.
Multi-channel testing
Multi-channel testing evaluates user experience across platforms like websites and apps, ensuring consistency and seamless user journeys.
N
NASA-TLX (NASA Task Load Index)
Is a six-question questionnaire administered after a task to gauge the perceived workload associated with the task.
Natural language interface
Natural language interface enables interaction with systems using conversational language, enhancing user-friendliness and accessibility.
Navigation Design
Navigation design is the aspect of user interface design that deals with guiding users to move through an application or website intuitively and effectively.
Net Promoter Score (NPS)
Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a metric used to measure customer loyalty and satisfaction with a product, service, or brand.
NOIR statistics
NOIR represents the four measurement scales in statistics: Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, and Ratio, categorizing types of data.
Normal Distribution
A statistical pattern observed in continuous metrics, characterized by the majority of values clustering near the center of the distribution and exhibiting symmetrical distribution around it.
O
Observed Score
Refers to the value of a metric acquired from a subset of the user population, typically obtained through sampling.
Onboarding
Onboarding refers to the process of introducing and familiarizing users with a new product, service, or platform.
P
P-Value
Represents the likelihood that the disparity observed between two or more observed scores is a result of random chance.
Parametric searching
Parametric searching improves UX by enabling tailored criteria, optimizing results in areas like shopping and research.
Performance Metric
A measurement that evaluates users' interactions with a specific product.
Persona
A persona is a fictional representation of a user segment aiding in user-centered design, decision-making, and team empathy.
Population (or User Population)
Encompasses all potential users of a product, representing the entire pool of individuals who may interact with or benefit from the product's features and functionalities.
Portrait vs. Landscape
Portrait and landscape are terms that describe the orientation of a page, image, screen, or device.
Post-Task Survey
is conducted after each user task in a quantitative study, typically designed to be brief.
Post-Test Survey
is conducted at the conclusion of an entire quantitative study.
Practical Significance
Refers to whether a statistically significant difference observed in a study is expected to have meaningful implications in real-world contexts.
Prioritization
Prioritization is a critical decision-making process used to rank tasks or items in order of importance or urgency.
Product
In the context of UX, a product is a tangible or intangible item, system, or service that is created to fulfill a specific user need or demand.
Product Critique
A product critique is a constructive evaluation and analysis of a product's design, functionality, and overall user experience.
Product Designer
A product designer is a professional who is responsible for creating and designing the overall look, feel, and functionality of a product.
Product Development Cycle
The product development cycle is a series of stages that a product undergoes, from its initial conception to its introduction into the market.
Product Differentiation
Product differentiation is the process of distinguishing a product from its competitors in the market by highlighting unique features, benefits, or characteristics that make it stand out.
Product Experience
Product experience refers to the overall impression and perception that users have when interacting with a product.
Product Positioning
Product positioning is the strategic process of creating a distinct perception and identity for a product in the minds of target customers.
Product Strategy
A product strategy is a high-level plan that outlines the vision, goals, and directions for a product or a product line.
Product Vision
A product vision is a strategic statement that outlines the long-term goals and direction for a product.
Product-Market Fit
Product-market fit refers to the degree to which a product satisfies strong market demand.
Pull-down menu
A pull-down menu is a GUI feature that displays a list of options when clicked, optimizing space and content organization.
Q
Qualitative insights
Qualitative insights refer to in-depth understanding and interpretation of subjects, usually derived from non-quantitative data like interviews, observations, or text analysis, focusing on the 'why' and 'how' of human behavior and opinions.
Quantitative insights
Quantitative insights are conclusions from numerical data, typically gained through research that quantifies aspects like magnitude and frequency.
R
Rapid Prototyping
Rapid prototyping is an iterative design and development process that involves quickly creating and testing functional or interactive prototypes of a product.
Rating Scale
A rating scale is a type of closed-ended survey question where respondents assign a value to a specific concept.
Redlining
Redlining is the practice in web design and development where detailed specifications of the design, including measurements, colors, fonts, and other elements, are provided for developers.
Remote focus groups
Remote focus groups are virtual sessions gathering diverse feedback, combining cost-efficiency with rich data collection.
Research Objective
A research objective is a statement that outlines the specific goals and intentions of a UX research study.
S
Scannability
Scannability refers to the ease with which users can quickly scan through the content of a webpage, document, or interface to find relevant information.
Scroll Depth
Scroll depth measures user engagement, guiding content optimization, UX analysis, and performance tracking.
Self-Reported Metric
A self-reported metric assesses users' subjective perceptions and feelings about a system.
Semantic-Differential Scale
A semantic-differential scale is a type of rating scale characterized by antonym adjectives at each end, with unlabeled points in between.
Single-Ease Question (SEQ)
is a survey instrument consisting of a single question posed to users after they have attempted a task.
Sitemap
A sitemap is a model of a website's content designed to help both users and search engines navigate the site.
Skeuomorphism
Skeuomorphism is a design style that mimics real-world objects in digital interfaces, offering user familiarity and intuitive interactions.
Skewed Distribution
is characterized by its lack of symmetry around its center point.
Skip Navigation
A skip navigation link is a feature typically found on web pages that allows users to bypass repetitive or non-essential navigation elements and jump directly to the main content of the page.
Small business
A small business is an independent, niche-focused entity. Starting one involves research, planning, and action.
SMART Goal Setting
SMART goal setting is a method used to define objectives or goals in a manner that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
Standard Deviation
is a statistical measure of the dispersion or spread of a distribution.
Synthetic metric
A synthetic metric combines multiple metrics for a holistic view of scenarios, aiding decision-making and understanding trends.
T
Task completion time
Task completion time is the time taken by a user to complete a specific task in a system or application. This metric is essential in usability testing to evaluate the efficiency of a user interface by measuring the duration to reach a defined goal.
Tear-off menu
A tear-off menu detaches from the main UI for easy access, enhancing user experience by streamlining frequent command use.
Three click rule
The three-click rule is a UX principle stating users should access information within three clicks, emphasizing efficiency and engagement.
Tooltip
A tooltip is a graphical user interface (GUI) element that provides additional information or context about a specific element on a website or app.
True Score
Represents the central tendency of the distribution derived from including all users within a user population.
U
Usability Evaluation
Usability evaluation is a process where a product, system, or service is assessed to determine how user-friendly it is.
Usability lab
A usability lab is a dedicated space or facility specifically designed for conducting usability testing and user research.
User Engagement
User engagement refers to the level of interaction, involvement, and emotional connection that users have with a product, service, or platform.
User Experience
User Experience, often abbreviated as UX, refers to the overall experience a user has while interacting with a product, system, or service
User Interface (UI)
User Interface (UI) is the visual medium users engage with in digital products, affecting usability and overall experience.
User Journey
A user journey is a visual representation of the process a user goes through to achieve a goal with your product, from their initial interaction to the final outcome.
User Session
User sessions measure interaction duration with a digital product, aiding in behavior analysis and personalization.
User Story
A user story is a concise, simple description of a feature or functionality from the perspective of the end user.
User Testing Script
A user testing script is a guide used during usability sessions to ensure consistent tasks and instructions, promoting reliable data.
User Testing Survey
A survey is a data collection method used to gather information or opinions from a group of individuals.
UX Personas
UX personas are research-based fictional profiles representing target users, guiding design and fostering empathy in product development.
UX wireframe
A UX wireframe is a visual guide to a digital interface's layout, aiding in design, collaboration, and early issue detection.
V
Value proposition
A value proposition explains the unique perks a product gives to its users, highlighting its special features and benefits.
Vanity Metrics
Vanity metrics are measurements that may look impressive but often lack meaningful insights into the actual success or value of a product, service, or business.
Variability
Refers to the extent of diversity among data points within a dataset, as well as their deviation from the center of the distribution.
W
Wireflow
Wireflow is a tool combining wireframes & flowcharts, illustrating user interactions, aiding design & communication.
Within-Subjects Design
A research methodology where the same participants are exposed to all conditions related to a variable being studied.
Wizard of oz prototype
Wizard of Oz Prototype: Users interact with a system controlled by a person behind the scenes.