User Experience Glossary

Here you can find important tech terms and definitions, explained in a simple and clear way.

Website Accessibility

Website Accessibility is the non-negotiable standard for creating a truly inclusive User Experience (UX). It requires adherence to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and includes: semantic HTML, color contrast, keyboard navigation, and alt text.

Validation

Validation is the strategic confirmation of design and feature effectiveness. It is achieved through various forms of Testing: quantitative, qualitative, and technical.

User Persona

User Personas are the human-centered anchor for all design and marketing efforts. They are created based on Quantitative Research and Qualitative Research (like interviews and Empathy Mapping).

User Flow

User Flow is the micro-level map of a specific user task (e.g., searching for an article, submitting a support ticket). It's a key part of Journey Mapping and UX Design. An optimized flow is characterized by: minimal steps, clear CTAs, and dead-ends.

Usability Testing

Usability Testing is one of the most direct ways to assess the quality of the User Experience (UX). It answers the question, "Can the user achieve their goal easily?"

Style Guide

A Style Guide is a crucial part of a larger Design System. It acts as a reference document that defines the specific rules for: typography, button states, color theory, and copywriting.

Scroll Animation

Scroll Animation includes effects like elements fading in as they enter the Viewport, objects moving at different speeds (Parallax Scrolling), or entire Sections transitioning as the user scrolls.

Persona

A Persona is created to give the target audience a human face, name, and set of goals, frustrations, and behaviors. For SaaS companies, multiple personas often represent different decision-makers (e.g., the "Technical Buyer" vs. the "Budget Approver").

Nudge (UX psychology)

Nudges are design techniques based on behavioral science. They influence decisions by changing the context in which choices are made. In web design, examples include: visual nudges, social proof nudges, and friction nudges.

Lead Form

The Lead Form is the most direct mechanism for Lead Generation. It is typically found on Landing Pages, demo request pages, and alongside Gated Content. Its design is critical for maximizing Conversion Rate.

Knowledge Base

A Knowledge Base is a critical resource for SaaS companies, often structured using a dedicated CMS (Content Management System) or a helpdesk platform. Its primary goal is to empower users to find answers quickly and reduce customer support costs.

Journey Mapping

Journey Mapping (or Customer Journey Mapping) is a high-level strategic process that synthesizes research, often including Empathy Mapping and User Persona definitions, into a visual timeline. It includes three main stages: current state, future state, and blueprint.

Information Architecture

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

Heatmap

In web analytics, a Heatmap uses a spectrum of warm (red/hot) to cool (blue/cold) colors overlayed on a webpage to show where users focus their attention. Common types include: click maps, scroll maps, and move maps.

Form Validation

Form Validation provides necessary checks to ensure data accuracy and improve the User Experience (UX). It includes: format checks, required fields, real-time feedback and error states.

Flow (User Flow)

User Flow visually maps the steps, decisions, and Touchpoints a user encounters while moving toward a goal, such as signing up for a trial or contacting sales. It's a fundamental part of Information Architecture and is often mapped alongside the Customer Journey.

Eye Tracking

Eye Tracking is a research method that uses specialized hardware or software to record where a user looks on a screen, revealing their visual behavior and attention patterns.

Empathy Mapping

Empathy Mapping is a foundational step in User-Centric Design (UCD) and Journey Mapping. It is typically conducted before any Figma work begins. The map is a quadrant that organizes a User Persona's attributes: says, thinks, does and feels.

Customer Journey

The Customer Journey maps the various Touchpoints a user has with a company's website and marketing materials. For B2B/SaaS, the journey typically includes: awareness, consideration, and decision.

Bounce Rate

Bounce Rate is a key metric in Google Analytics that reflects the effectiveness of a page at engaging the user. A high bounce rate often indicates one of two things: poor landing experience and poor UX design.