UX Research Glossary

A closed card sort is a research method where participants organize items into predefined categories, used to validate existing information architecture.

A hybrid card sort combines open and closed approaches, allowing participants to use predefined categories or create their own, offering flexibility in research.

An open card sort is a research method where participants organize items into groups and create their own category names, revealing how they naturally think about information.

Content strategy is the planning, development, and management of content to meet business goals and user needs through creation, delivery, and governance.

A similarity matrix is a grid showing how often participants grouped pairs of cards together, visualizing agreement patterns in card sorting data.

A taxonomy is a hierarchical classification system that organizes content into categories and subcategories, providing structure for navigation and findability.

A minimum viable product (MVP) is the simplest version of a product that delivers value to early users and enables learning for future development.

Accessibility means designing products and services that can be used by people of all abilities, including those with disabilities.

User experience (UX) encompasses all aspects of a user's interaction with a company, its services, and products, focusing on ease of use and satisfaction.

Navigation is the system that helps users move through and find content in a website or application, including menus, links, and wayfinding elements.

A prototype is an early sample or model of a product used to test concepts, gather feedback, and validate design decisions before full development.

Conversion rate is the percentage of visitors who complete a desired action, a key metric for measuring website and marketing effectiveness.

A/B testing (split testing) compares two versions of a webpage or feature to determine which performs better based on real user behavior and data.

Accessibility testing is the process of evaluating digital products to ensure they can be used by people with disabilities. It helps create more inclusive exper

An Affinity Diagram is a visual method for organizing large amounts of data, ideas, or insights into natural groupings based on relationships or similarities. I

Affordance refers to the perceived or actual properties of an object that suggest how it can be used. In UX design, affordances are visual cues that help users

Breakpoint is a specific width threshold in responsive web design where the layout of a website changes to accommodate different screen sizes. Breakpoints defin

Card sorting is a user research method that helps you understand how people categorize and group information. It provides valuable insights into users' mental m

Cognitive load refers to the mental effort and working memory resources required to process information and complete tasks. It represents the amount of mental p

Contextual inquiry is a field research method where researchers observe and interview users in their natural environment while they perform tasks. It provides d

Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) is the systematic process of increasing the percentage of website visitors who take a desired action. Through analysis, testi

A dendrogram is a tree diagram that illustrates the hierarchical relationship between objects based on similarity. It's a visual representation of the results f

Design Sprint is a time-constrained, five-day process that uses design thinking to solve complex problems and test new ideas through rapid prototyping. It helps

A design system is a comprehensive collection of reusable components, guidelines, and standards that ensure consistency across digital products. It serves as a

A diary study is a qualitative UX research method where participants record their experiences, behaviors, and thoughts over an extended period. This longitudina

Ethnographic Research is a qualitative research methodology where researchers immerse themselves in users' environments to observe behaviors, interactions, and

Eye tracking is a research method that records where a person's eyes move when viewing interfaces, content, or physical objects. It provides objective data on v

Feedback loop is a cyclical process where user input leads to system responses, which in turn informs future user actions. It creates a continuous exchange of i

Findability is the measure of how easily users can locate specific information or functionality within a digital product. It directly impacts user experience by

Gamification is the strategic use of game elements and mechanics in non-game contexts to boost user engagement and motivation. It transforms ordinary tasks into

Heat Map is a visual representation of data where values are depicted as colors. In UX research, heat maps show where users focus their attention or interact mo

Heuristic evaluation is a usability inspection method where experts evaluate a user interface against established usability principles (heuristics). It provides

Information Architecture (IA) is the structural design of information environments that enables intuitive navigation and content findability. It serves as the b

Information scent refers to the cues in a digital interface that help users predict what they will find if they follow a particular navigation path. It helps us

Interaction Design (IxD) is the practice of designing how users interact with digital products, focusing on creating intuitive, effective, and enjoyable experie

A journey map is a visual representation of a user's complete experience with a product, service, or organization over time. It documents the steps, touchpoints

A mental model is a person's internal representation of how something works in the real world. These cognitive frameworks help users predict how systems behave,

Microinteraction is a small, contained moment when a user interacts with a digital product to accomplish a single task. These subtle animations, transitions, an

A mockup is a detailed visual representation of a digital product's appearance, showing what the final design will look like without implementing full functiona

Navigation pattern is a standardized design approach for organizing and presenting the paths users can take through a website or application. It creates consist

Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a customer loyalty metric that measures how likely customers are to recommend your product or service to others. It helps organizati

User onboarding is the structured process of introducing new users to your product and guiding them to value. It includes the entire first-time experience, from

Participatory Design is a collaborative approach to research, design, and development that actively involves all stakeholders (users, designers, developers, and

Progressive disclosure is an interface design technique that presents information and functionality gradually, revealing details only when needed. It reduces co

Prototype fidelity refers to the level of detail, functionality, and visual polish in a prototype. It exists on a spectrum from low fidelity (simple, abstract r

Responsive Design is an approach to web design that ensures digital interfaces adapt to different screen sizes and devices. It creates optimal viewing experienc

A screen reader is assistive technology software that converts digital text into synthesized speech or braille output. It helps users with visual impairments or

Sentiment Analysis is a technique that identifies and categorizes opinions expressed in text to determine whether the writer's attitude is positive, negative, o

A sitemap is a hierarchical representation of a website's structure and content organization. It visualizes how pages are organized, connected, and navigated, s

The System Usability Scale (SUS) is a standardized questionnaire that measures the perceived usability of a product or system. As one of the most widely used us

Task Analysis is a structured approach to understanding how users complete specific activities to achieve their goals. It involves breaking down tasks into smal

Think Aloud Protocol is a UX research method where participants verbalize their thoughts, feelings, and reasoning while completing tasks. This verbal protocol t

Tree testing (also known as reverse card sorting) is a UX research method that evaluates how easily users can find information in a website or app's navigation

Usability Metrics are quantifiable measurements that evaluate how effectively, efficiently, and satisfactorily users can interact with a product or interface. T

Usability testing is a research method where real users interact with a product or interface while researchers observe and gather feedback. It helps teams ident

User flow is a visual representation of the path users take to complete a specific task within a digital product. It maps out every step of the user's journey f

A user journey maps the complete experience a user has with your product, from initial awareness through post-purchase, revealing pain points and opportunities.

User persona is a fictional representation of your target users based on real data about demographics, behaviors, needs, and goals. These semi-fictional charact

User research is the systematic study of target users to understand their needs, behaviors, and motivations through observation and feedback methods.

A wireframe is a low-fidelity sketch or blueprint that outlines the basic structure, layout, and functionality of a digital interface without detailed visual de

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