UX Research Glossary

A closed card sort asks participants to organize items into predefined categories. Learn when closed sorts validate your IA better than open ones.

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

An open card sort lets participants organize items into groups and name their own categories, revealing how users naturally think about information.

Content strategy is the planning and management of content to meet business goals and user needs. Learn how to align content with UX research.

A content audit inventories every page on your site to find gaps, duplicates, and outdated content. Learn how audits feed into card sorting studies.

Agreement rate measures how consistently card sorting participants place the same card into the same category, revealing consensus strength in your...

A similarity matrix shows how often card sorting participants grouped pairs of items together. Learn how to interpret matrices for IA decisions.

Statistical significance tells you whether card sorting patterns are real or random. Learn what p-values and confidence levels mean for IA research.

Information foraging theory explains how users hunt for content online. Learn how scent trails and IA design affect user search behaviour.

A task flow maps the steps a user takes to complete a single goal. Learn how task flows inform card sorting and navigation structure decisions.

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

Wayfinding is how users orient themselves and navigate through digital spaces. Learn how card sorting and tree testing improve wayfinding cues.

A minimum viable product (MVP) is the simplest version of your product that delivers real value. Learn how to scope an MVP that actually validates demand.

Card sorting participants sort items into groups that make sense to them. Learn how to recruit, screen, and brief participants for reliable results.

Competitive analysis compares your product's UX against rivals. Learn how to audit competitor navigation and use findings to improve your own IA.

A focus group gathers 6-10 users to discuss their experiences and expectations. Learn how focus groups complement card sorting in UX research.

Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) framework explained — outcome-focused research that reframes feature decisions. Examples of JTBD applied to UX and IA work.

The Kano model classifies features by user satisfaction impact. Learn how delight, performance, and basic needs shape UX prioritization decisions.

Label testing evaluates whether category names make sense to users. Learn how to test navigation labels before launching your new IA.

Likert scale meaning, examples, and use in UX research. 1-5 vs 1-7 scales, post-task questions, and how to avoid the acquiescence bias trap.

Mental model mapping visualises how users think about a domain. Learn how this technique pairs with card sorting to build user-centred navigation.

Moderated testing involves a researcher guiding participants through UX tasks in real time. Learn when live facilitation gives you richer insights.

Remote UX research lets you test with participants anywhere in the world. Learn how to run card sorts, tree tests, and surveys without a lab.

A reverse card sort asks participants to find items within a predefined structure. Learn when to use it and how it differs from standard card sorting.

How many participants do you need for reliable card sorting results? Learn sample size guidelines for open, closed, and hybrid card sorts.

Stakeholder interviews uncover business goals and constraints before UX research begins. Learn how to run them and use insights to scope card sorts.

Good survey design captures user preferences without introducing bias. Learn how to write clear questions that support your card sorting research.

Unmoderated testing lets participants complete UX tasks independently without a researcher present. Learn when it works best and how to set it up.

Accessibility means designing products usable 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 of menus, links, and cues that helps users find content in your site or app.

A prototype is an early model of your product built to test ideas and gather feedback before development.

Conversion rate is the percentage of visitors who complete a desired action on your site. Learn how to calculate, benchmark, and improve yours.

A/B testing compares two versions of a page or feature to see which performs better with real users.

Accessibility testing evaluates whether digital products work for people with disabilities. Learn methods, tools, and WCAG standards to build inclusive designs.

An affinity diagram organizes research data into natural groupings based on themes. Learn how to use affinity mapping to find patterns in UX research.

An affordance is a design property that signals how an element can be used. Learn how affordances guide user interaction and improve interface usability.

A breakpoint is the screen width where a responsive layout adapts to a new size. Learn how to set breakpoints that create seamless cross-device experiences.

Card sorting is a UX research method where users group content into categories. Discover how card sorting reveals mental models and improves your site's IA.

Cluster analysis groups similar data points to reveal patterns in card sorting results. Learn how to read clusters and dendrograms confidently.

Cognitive load measures how much mental effort a task requires. Understand the three types and learn practical techniques to reduce overload in your UX designs.

Content hierarchy ranks information by importance to guide users through your pages. Learn how to structure content that improves readability and engagement.

Contextual inquiry is a field research method where you observe users in their real environment. Learn how contextual inquiry surfaces unmet needs.

Conversion rate optimization (CRO) increases the percentage of visitors who take a desired action. Learn the methods that move the needle.

A dendrogram is a tree diagram used to visualize card sorting clusters. Learn how to read dendrograms and use them to improve your information architecture.

A design sprint is a five-day process for solving problems through prototyping and user testing. Learn how to scope and run a sprint that ships.

A design system is a collection of reusable components and guidelines ensuring product consistency. Learn how design systems scale UX across teams.

A diary study is a UX research method where participants log experiences over time. Learn how diary studies reveal long-term behavior patterns and user needs.

Ethnographic research immerses researchers in users' real environments to observe natural behaviors.

Eye tracking records where users look when viewing an interface, providing objective attention data.

A feedback loop is the cycle where user actions trigger system responses that shape future behavior.

Findability measures how easily users can locate information in your product. Learn how to test and improve findability with tree tests.

First click testing measures where users click first when completing a task. Learn how first-click data predicts task success rates.

Gamification applies game mechanics like points, badges, and rewards to non-game products. Learn when gamification helps engagement and when it backfires.

A heat map visualizes user behavior by showing where people click, scroll, and look on a page. Learn how to read and act on heat map data.

Heuristic evaluation explained — the Nielsen Method, the 10 usability heuristics checklist, and how to run an expert review that finds real issues.

Information architecture (IA) is the structural design of content that enables intuitive navigation.

Information scent is the set of cues that help users predict where a link or path will lead. Learn how to strengthen scent in your navigation.

Interaction design (IxD) shapes how users engage with digital products through intuitive interfaces.

A mental model is a user's internal understanding of how a system works. Learn how to uncover and design for users' mental models in your IA.

A microinteraction is a small, focused moment where a user completes a single task in your product. Learn how microinteractions shape perceived UX.

A mockup is a high-fidelity visual of your product's design without working functionality. Learn when to use mockups and how they fit into your design workflow.

Multivariate testing compares multiple variables and combinations on a page to find the best-performing version.

A navigation pattern is a proven layout for organizing how users move through your site or app. Learn which navigation patterns fit which IA shape.

Net Promoter Score (NPS) measures customer loyalty by asking how likely users are to recommend your product.

Onboarding is the process of guiding new users to value in your product. Learn proven onboarding patterns that reduce churn and accelerate time-to-first-value.

Participatory design involves end users directly in the design process as co-creators. Learn how to run sessions that produce real insight.

Progressive disclosure reveals information gradually, showing details only when users need them. Learn how this UX technique reduces cognitive load.

Prototype fidelity is the level of detail and polish in a prototype, from low-fi sketches to high-fi mockups.

Responsive design ensures your website adapts seamlessly to any screen size or device. Learn the principles that keep UX consistent across breakpoints.

A screen reader converts on-screen text into speech or braille for visually impaired users. Learn how to design interfaces that work with screen readers.

Sentiment analysis identifies whether user feedback is positive, negative, or neutral. Learn how to apply sentiment analysis to interview transcripts.

A sitemap is a visual diagram of your website's page structure and hierarchy. Learn how sitemaps inform card sorting and IA decisions.

System Usability Scale (SUS) explained. A 10-question survey that scores product usability 0-100 — how to administer and read the result.

Task analysis breaks down how users complete activities to achieve their goals. Learn how task analysis informs better navigation and IA design.

Task success rate is the percentage of users who complete a task without help. Learn how to measure, benchmark, and improve this essential usability metric.

Think aloud protocol asks users to verbalize their thoughts while completing tasks. Learn how this UX method reveals reasoning and uncovers usability issues.

Tree testing evaluates how easily users find items in your site's navigation. Learn how to run tree tests that validate your information architecture.

Usability metrics quantify how effectively users interact with your product. Learn which metrics to track and how to interpret them.

Usability testing methods and examples. How to plan, run, and analyze sessions that surface real UX problems before they hit production.

A user flow maps the steps someone takes to complete a task in your product. Learn how to design user flows that match user intent.

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 journey map examples and a step-by-step build guide. Map every touchpoint, emotion, and pain point to surface real UX opportunities.

User persona examples and UX research template. How to create personas that guide product decisions — from interview data to a one-page archetype.

User research is the systematic study of your audience's needs, behaviors, and motivations. Learn the methods that produce actionable insight.

Explore the most common UX research methods, from card sorting to usability testing. Learn which method fits which research question.

A wireframe is a low-fidelity blueprint showing the layout and structure of a page before visual design. Learn when and how to wireframe for faster iteration.

Usability heuristics are broad rules of thumb for evaluating interface design. Learn how Nielsen's 10 heuristics relate to IA and card sorting.

Error rate tracks how often users make mistakes during a task. Learn how this metric exposes confusing navigation and validates card sorting changes.

Learnability measures how quickly new users master your interface. Learn how card sorting and clear IA improve first-time task completion rates.

Time on task measures how long users take to complete an action. Learn how this core usability metric reveals navigation and IA problems.

User-centered design puts the user at the heart of every product decision. Learn the principles, process, and methods UX teams rely on.