UX Reference
UX Reference
Plain-language definitions of 180 terms in UX, research, accessibility and service design, with examples from Userhub research in Bangladesh.Plain-language definitions of 180 UX and research terms.
180 entries · 8 topics · Updated June 2026 · How entries are written
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All topicsResearch methodsMethods for studying people, tasks and contexts.49 entriesDesign systems and implementationComponents, specifications, handoff and quality.33 entriesUsability metrics and measurementHow usability and experience are measured.31 entriesInteraction and content designInterfaces, wording, feedback and errors.31 entriesService designJourneys, touchpoints, backstage and recovery.27 entriesAccessibilityDesigning for people with diverse abilities.15 entriesResearch ethics and consentConsent, privacy and responsible research.13 entriesAI and automated decisionsTrust, oversight and accountability in automated systems.11 entries
A–Z index
All 180 entries on one pageA18 entries
A/B TestingA/B testing is a controlled experimental method in which users are assigned to different…Acceptance CriteriaAcceptance criteria are agreed conditions used to determine whether a requirement, user…AccessibilityAccessibility is the practice of making digital products, content, and services usable…Accessibility GovernanceAccessibility governance is the set of responsibilities, standards, processes, reviews…Accessibility RegressionAccessibility regression is the reintroduction or creation of accessibility barriers…Accessible NameAn accessible name is the programmatically determinable label or text alternative that…ActivationActivation is the point at which a user reaches an early meaningful value, readiness…AdoptionAdoption is the meaningful uptake and use of a product, service, system, or practice by…Adoption BarrierAn adoption barrier is a factor that prevents, delays, discourages, or limits people…AffordanceAffordance refers to what an object, interface, or environment makes possible for…AI TransparencyAI transparency is the visibility and understandability of when, where, and what role…Algorithmic AccountabilityAlgorithmic accountability is the responsibility, governance, documentation…Alternative TextAlternative text is text that communicates the purpose or meaning of an image or…Appeal PathAn appeal path is a designed route through which users can challenge, correct, review…Assistive TechnologyAssistive technology is hardware, software, equipment, or a system feature that helps…Assumption MappingAssumption mapping is the process of identifying, organizing, and prioritizing…Automated DecisionAn automated decision is a decision made by, or materially supported by, an automated…Automation BiasAutomation bias is the tendency for people to over-rely on, accept, or follow automated…
B4 entries
BackstageBackstage refers to the staff actions, systems, data flows, policies, approvals, rules…Behavioral AnalyticsBehavioral analytics is the collection and analysis of user interaction data to…Benchmark TaskA benchmark task is a repeatable task used to measure usability or experience…Business RequirementA business requirement is a statement of an organizational, operational, policy…
C18 entries
Card SortingCard sorting is a research method in which participants organize items into groups so…Case ManagementCase management is the coordinated handling of an individual case through ownership…Change ManagementChange management is the structured process of preparing, supporting, and guiding…Channel StrategyChannel strategy is the planning of how users can access, move through, receive support…CodebookA codebook is a structured guide that defines the codes used to categorize, interpret…Cognitive AccessibilityCognitive accessibility is the practice of making information, interfaces, tasks, and…Cognitive LoadCognitive load is the mental effort required to understand information, make decisions…Color ContrastColor contrast is the difference between foreground and background colors that affects…ComponentA component is a reusable element with a defined purpose, structure, behavior, and…Component DocumentationComponent documentation is the structured guidance that explains how a reusable…Component GovernanceComponent governance is the process of controlling how reusable interface components are…Component VariantA component variant is an approved version, state, size, style, or behavior of a…Confidence SignalA confidence signal is a user- or staff-facing indication of certainty, uncertainty…Consent ClarityConsent clarity is the extent to which users can understand what they are agreeing to…Content ClarityContent clarity is the degree to which written information is understandable, usable…Content DesignContent design is the practice of planning, structuring, writing, and governing content…Contextual InquiryContextual inquiry is a field-based research method in which researchers observe and…ConversionConversion is the completion of a meaningful intended action within a product, service…
D14 entries
Data QualityData quality is the degree to which data is accurate, complete, consistent, timely…Data SaturationData saturation is the point in qualitative research where additional data collection is…Decision ExplanationA decision explanation is a user-facing explanation of a decision, result, rejection…Decision LogA decision log is a structured record of important decisions, including the decision…Design HandoffDesign handoff is the process of transferring design intent, specifications, assets…Design Quality AssuranceDesign quality assurance is the structured review of whether implemented design…Design RationaleDesign rationale is the documented reasoning behind a design decision, including the…Design ReviewA design review is a structured evaluation of a design artifact, interface, flow, or…Design SpecificationA design specification is a documented description of how a design should be built…Design SystemA design system is a governed set of reusable interface components, interaction…Design System GovernanceDesign system governance is the set of roles, rules, processes, and decision structures…Design TokenA design token is a named, reusable value that represents a design decision, such as…Diary StudyA diary study is a research method in which participants record events, experiences…Drop-Off RateDrop-off rate is the proportion of users who leave or stop progressing at a defined step…
E12 entries
EffectivenessEffectiveness is the extent to which users achieve specified goals with accuracy and…EfficiencyEfficiency is the extent to which users achieve specified goals while expending…Empty StateAn empty state is a product, interface, or service state where expected content, data…EngagementEngagement is the degree and quality of meaningful interaction users have with a…Error MessageAn error message is user-facing feedback that explains a problem, identifies where it…Error PreventionError prevention is the practice of designing interactions, content, and system feedback…Error RateError rate records how often users make defined errors while attempting a task or…Error RecoveryError recovery is the ability of users to recognize an error, understand what happened…EthnographyEthnography is an in-depth qualitative research approach for studying people, practices…Evidence MatrixAn evidence matrix is a structured table or framework that organizes findings…Expert ReviewExpert review is an evaluation approach in which trained evaluators examine a product…ExplainabilityExplainability is the ability of a system, model, process, or output to be explained in…
F8 entries
Failure StateA failure state is a product, interface, system, or service condition where a process…Field StudyA field study examines people, behavior, tools, tasks, and environments in real-world…Focus OrderFocus order is the sequence in which interactive elements receive keyboard or…Form UsabilityForm usability describes how effectively and confidently users can understand, complete…Front-End Implementation QualityFront-end implementation quality is the degree to which the coded user interface is…FrontstageFrontstage refers to the visible parts of a service that users directly encounter, such…Functional RequirementA functional requirement describes what a system, product, service, or component must do…Funnel AnalysisFunnel analysis is a method for examining how users progress through a defined sequence…
H4 entries
Help TextHelp text is short supporting content placed near a question, field, control, or task…Heuristic EvaluationHeuristic evaluation is a usability inspection method in which evaluators examine an…Human OversightHuman oversight is the design, governance, and operational capacity for people to…Human-Centered DesignHuman-centered design is an approach to designing interactive systems that focuses on…
I12 entries
Impact MetricAn impact metric measures a broader or longer-term effect associated with a service…Implementation FidelityImplementation fidelity is the extent to which the built product or interface accurately…Implementation ReviewImplementation review is the structured evaluation of a built interface against approved…Implementation RiskImplementation risk is the possibility that a product, service, system, or change effort…Inclusive DesignInclusive design is an approach to designing products, services, environments, or…Information ArchitectureInformation architecture is the organization, labeling, and structuring of information…Informed ConsentInformed consent is the process of ensuring that participants understand a study and…Input ValidationInput validation is the process of checking whether user-provided data meets required…Interaction ConsistencyInteraction consistency is the extent to which similar interface elements, actions…Interaction CostInteraction cost is the effort a user must expend to complete a task or obtain value…Interaction SpecificationAn interaction specification is a documented description of how an interface or…Interview GuideAn interview guide is a structured plan of topics, prompts, and follow-up questions used…
J2 entries
K1 entries
L3 entries
M2 entries
N2 entries
O5 entries
ObservationObservation is a research method in which researchers watch people, tasks, environments…Omnichannel ExperienceOmnichannel experience is the continuity of a user’s service experience across connected…Operational WorkflowAn operational workflow is the sequence of activities, decisions, handoffs, roles…Opportunity AreaAn opportunity area is a focused space for potential improvement identified from…Outcome MetricAn outcome metric measures a meaningful result, change, or effect that occurs because…
P12 entries
Pain PointA pain point is a specific difficulty, friction, uncertainty, failure, or burden that…Participatory DesignParticipatory design is an approach in which people affected by a system are…PatternA pattern is a reusable solution structure for a recurring problem within a defined…Pattern LibraryA pattern library is an organized collection of reusable design patterns, guidance…PersonaA persona is a research-grounded representation of a user group that summarizes goals…Plain LanguagePlain language is communication that users can find, understand, and use the first time…Policy LanguagePolicy language is the wording used to communicate rules, eligibility, obligations…Post-Task RatingA post-task rating is a subjective measure collected immediately after a user attempts a…Privacy NoticeA privacy notice is user-facing information that explains how personal data is…Problem StatementA problem statement is a clear description of a user, service, product, or operational…Progressive DisclosureProgressive disclosure is a design approach that reveals information, options, or…Prototype FidelityPrototype fidelity is the level of detail, realism, and interactivity represented in a…
R13 entries
ReadabilityReadability is the ease with which written content can be read and processed, influenced…Recommendation PrioritizationRecommendation prioritization is the process of ranking proposed UX, content…Recovery PathA recovery path is a designed route that helps users, staff, or systems move forward…Recruitment CriteriaRecruitment criteria are the conditions used to identify, include, exclude, or…Release ReadinessRelease readiness is the assessment of whether a product, feature, service change, or…Research EthicsResearch ethics is the set of principles and practices used to protect participants…Research FindingA research finding is an evidence-based statement derived from analysed research data…Research OperationsResearch operations is the set of people, processes, tools, governance practices, and…Research ParticipantA research participant is a person who takes part in a study by providing information…Research ProtocolA research protocol is a structured plan that describes the purpose, participants…Research RepositoryA research repository is an organized collection of research materials, evidence…Responsive DesignResponsive design is an approach in which digital interfaces adapt to different screen…RetentionRetention is the continued appropriate use of a product, service, system, or…
S18 entries
Sampling StrategyA sampling strategy is the plan for selecting participants, cases, sites, tasks, or data…Screen Reader TestingScreen reader testing evaluates whether digital content, controls, forms, and task flows…Search Log AnalysisSearch log analysis is the review of search queries, search results, refinements…Service BlueprintA service blueprint is a structured representation of a service that shows user actions…Service DesignService design is the practice of designing and improving the interactions, processes…Service EcosystemA service ecosystem is the wider network of users, staff, channels, systems, policies…Service HandoffA service handoff is the transfer of responsibility, information, status, or action…Service RecoveryService recovery refers to the actions taken after a service failure to acknowledge the…Service StandardA service standard is a set of criteria used to assess whether a service is good enough…Session ReplaySession replay is a method of recording and reviewing user interactions with a website…Severity RatingA severity rating is an assessment of how serious a usability issue is based on its…Single Ease QuestionThe Single Ease Question is a one-item post-task rating that asks users how easy or…Stakeholder MapA stakeholder map is a representation of people, groups, roles, organizations, or…Status MessageA status message is user-facing feedback that communicates the state, progress, result…Success CriteriaSuccess criteria are the defined conditions that determine whether a task, interaction…Support Ticket AnalysisSupport ticket analysis is the systematic review of support requests, complaints…SurveyA survey is a structured research method that uses standardized questions to collect…System Usability ScaleThe System Usability Scale is a standardized questionnaire used to measure perceived…
T11 entries
Task AnalysisTask analysis is a method for studying what people need to do to achieve a goal…Task ScenarioA task scenario is a realistic description of a situation that asks a participant to…Task SuccessTask success is a UX evaluation measure that describes whether a user completes a…Test PlanA test plan is a structured document that defines how a usability test or evaluation…Thematic AnalysisThematic analysis is a qualitative analysis method for identifying, organizing, and…Think-Aloud ProtocolThink-aloud protocol is a method in which participants verbalize what they are thinking…Time on TaskTime on task records the elapsed time users take to complete a defined task under…TouchpointA touchpoint is a specific point where a person interacts with a service, product…Tree TestingTree testing is an information architecture evaluation method in which participants use…TriangulationTriangulation is the use of multiple data sources, methods, researchers, or perspectives…Trust CalibrationTrust calibration is the alignment between a person’s level of trust in a system and the…
U19 entries
Usability BenchmarkingUsability benchmarking is the process of measuring usability performance using…Usability IssueA usability issue is a documented problem that prevents, delays, misleads, frustrates…Usability TestingUsability testing is an evaluation method in which representative users attempt…Use CaseA use case is a structured description of how an actor interacts with a system, service…User ConfidenceUser confidence is a perception-based measure of how certain users feel about their…User FlowA user flow represents the sequence of steps, decisions, screens, actions, and system…User InterviewA user interview is a qualitative research method in which a researcher asks…User NeedA user need is an evidence-based statement of what a user must understand, decide…User RequirementA user requirement is a statement of what a system, product, service, or interaction…User SatisfactionUser satisfaction captures users' reported judgment, comfort, confidence, or sentiment…User StoryA user story is a short delivery-focused statement that describes a user, what they need…User TrustUser trust is the confidence users place in a product, service, system, or institution…UX AuditA UX audit is a structured review of a digital product, service, or workflow to identify…UX DebtUX debt is the accumulated cost of unresolved user experience problems, design…UX GovernanceUX governance is the set of roles, standards, decision rules, processes, and…UX InsightA UX insight is an interpreted understanding of user behaviour, need, motivation…UX MaturityUX maturity is the level of organizational capability to apply UX, usability…UX MetricA UX metric is a defined measure used to evaluate an aspect of user experience…UX RoadmapA UX roadmap is a prioritized plan that sequences user experience research, design…