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 dendrogram is a tree-like diagram showing how items cluster together in card sorting data, revealing which cards participants most frequently grouped together.

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.

Findability is the ease with which users can locate information or complete tasks within a system, a key measure of information architecture effectiveness.

Cognitive load is the amount of mental effort required to use an interface. Reducing cognitive load makes products easier to use and understand.

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 how well a digital product can be used by people with disabilities. It ensures websites, apps, and software a

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

Card sorting is a user research method where participants organize topics into categories to help design intuitive navigation and information architecture.

Contextual inquiry is a field research method where UX researchers observe and interview participants in their natural environment while they complete tasks. It

A design system is a comprehensive collection of reusable components, guidelines, and documentation that establishes consistent design patterns across products.

Heuristic evaluation is a usability inspection method where experts review an interface against established usability principles to identify problems.

Information Architecture (IA) is the practice of organizing, structuring, and labeling content to help users find information and complete tasks efficiently. It

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 interactive digital products, environments, systems, and services that focus on user behavior. It examines

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,

Microinteractions are small, purposeful moments in a user interface that accomplish a single task. These subtle design elements—like button animations, form val

A navigation pattern is a standardized way of organizing a website or app's menu structure to help users move through digital content. It provides a consistent

A screen reader is a form of assistive technology that converts digital text into synthesized speech or braille output. It allows people with visual impairments

System Usability Scale (SUS) is a quick, standardized questionnaire that measures the perceived usability of a product or system. It provides researchers and de

Task Analysis is a systematic method of identifying and examining the steps users take to complete a specific task or goal. It helps UX researchers understand h

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 assess how easily users can interact with a product, website, or system. They provide objective data about

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

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

A user persona is a fictional representation of your target user based on research data, helping teams make user-centered design decisions.

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 simple, low-fidelity visual representation of a website, app, or interface that outlines its structure, layout, and functionality without detai

Responsive design is an approach to web design that makes pages render well across different devices and screen sizes, from desktop to mobile.