UX Glossary

Helper text is contextual information provided alongside form fields to guide users in inputting the correct information, enhancing user experience and reducing errors.

A Hero Section is a prominent area at the top of a webpage designed to grab attention, typically featuring a large image, headline, and call-to-action (CTA).

Heuristic Evaluation is a usability inspection method where usability experts assess a product based on established principles. It is typically used in the design process to identify usability issues and improve user experience before user testing.

Heuristics in usability refer to Jakob Nielsen's ten guidelines that assist in evaluating and improving user interface design. They are used during usability assessments to identify potential usability issues and enhance user experience.

A hi-fidelity prototype closely resembles the final product, featuring detailed design and interactive elements. It is used in user testing to evaluate functionality, usability, and overall experience before development.

Hick’s Law states that the time it takes to make a decision increases with the number and complexity of choices. In UX, it informs design decisions by encouraging simplicity in navigation and options to enhance user efficiency.

HIG, or Human Interface Guidelines, are a set of recommendations for designing user interfaces that enhance usability and aesthetics.

High-Fidelity refers to detailed, polished representations of a product, often including visual elements and interactive features, used for user testing and feedback.

A high-fidelity prototype is a detailed and interactive representation of a product, closely resembling the final design and functionality.

Holistic Understanding in UX involves considering all factors that affect a user's interaction with a product or service. This includes user needs, emotions, behaviors, and context, ensuring a cohesive and meaningful experience throughout the design...

Hotkeys are keyboard shortcuts that provide quick access to specific functions or commands within software, enhancing user efficiency.

Human Computer Interaction (HCI) is the study of how people interact with computers and technology. It informs the design and evaluation of user interfaces, ensuring they are effective, efficient, and user-friendly in various contexts.

Human factors is the study of how people interact with systems, focusing on designing elements to enhance user well-being and improve system performance. It is applied in UX and product design to create more effective and user-friendly experiences.

Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) are a set of recommendations and best practices for designing user interfaces that ensure consistency, usability, and accessibility across products.

Human-Centered Design is a design approach that focuses on understanding and addressing the needs, behaviors, and goals of users. It is used in UX and product development to create solutions that effectively meet user requirements.

A hybrid app is a software application that combines elements of both native and web applications, allowing for multi-platform compatibility while utilizing a single codebase.

A hypothesis is a testable statement that predicts the expected outcome of an A/B test. It helps guide the selection of design elements to be varied, enabling data-driven decisions in UX and product development.

Hypothesis formulation is the initial step in multivariate testing. It involves defining design elements to be tested and creating hypotheses about their potential impact on user behavior, guiding the testing process for informed decision-making.

Information Architecture (IA) is the structural design of shared information environments, focusing on organizing and labeling content effectively.

Ideation is the phase in UX and product development where teams engage in brainstorming to generate a wide variety of potential solutions to a defined problem. This process emphasizes quantity of ideas to inspire innovation and exploration.

In-App Messaging refers to communication tools integrated within an application that facilitate direct interaction between the app and its users, often used for notifications, updates, or customer support.

In-app notifications are messages that appear within a mobile or web application to inform users about updates, alerts, or important information.

In-Person Testing is a usability evaluation method where participants interact with a product or prototype in a controlled environment, allowing for direct observation and interaction by researchers.

Incidence rate (IR) refers to the proportion of participants in a sample pool who meet specific criteria to qualify for a study. It is used to assess the feasibility of recruiting suitable candidates for research in UX and product design.