The index of web design terminology.
An editorial glossary of UX, UI, accessibility, performance, and front-end vocabulary used across the Web Design Awards archive. Each entry defines the concept, names the common patterns, and links back to the award-winning work where the language shows up in practice.
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A method of comparing two versions of a webpage or app to see which one performs better.
Designing websites and applications accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
A color scheme involving three colors equally spaced around the color wheel, providing vibrant contrasts.
A design feature that suggests how an object should be used.
The arrangement of elements to line up in a straight line or grid to create order and alignment.
A color scheme that uses colors that are next to each other on the color wheel.
An interactive experience of a real-world environment where objects are enhanced by computer-generated perceptual information.
A button or link placed on a webpage encouraging users to take an action.
A user experience research technique where participants organize topics into categories.
The difference in luminance or color that makes an object distinguishable.
A selection of colors that are used consistently throughout a design.
The planning, creation, and management of content.
A research method used to understand the context of a user's interactions with products.
The ratio of the luminance of the bright color to the dark color in web design.
The percentage of visitors who take the desired action.
A style sheet language used for describing the presentation of a document written in HTML.
User interface design choices that trick users into taking actions they might not otherwise choose.
The representation of data in a visual context, like a chart or map, to help users understand patterns and trends.
A time-constrained process where a team collaborates to answer critical business questions through design, prototyping, and testing ideas.
A comprehensive set of standards for design and UI components across a project.
A methodology that provides a solution-based approach to solving problems.
A visual representation used to understand the attitudes and behaviors of users.
The study of people in their natural environment through observation and interviews to understand their experiences and behaviors.
The practice of designing products, processes, services, events, and environments with a focus placed on the quality of the user experience.
A web page layout that places the most important information at the top where users tend to look first.
A small, iconic image that represents a website in browser tabs.
The degree to which a design is detailed and realistic.
A navigation bar that sticks to the top of the screen as users scroll down.
A style of interface design emphasizing minimal use of stylistic elements.
An interactive design element that indicates a clickable area, often changing appearance when hovered over.
The practice of selecting and pairing typefaces to complement the design.
The application of game-design elements and game principles in non-game contexts to improve user engagement and problem-solving.
Psychological principles that describe how humans perceive patterns.
The ability of a device to interpret physical movements as commands.
A structure made up of vertical and horizontal lines that help to organize content.
Technology that recreates the sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations, or motions to the user.
A usability inspection method for identifying usability problems in a user interface design.
The arrangement or presentation of elements in a way that implies importance.
The visual change that occurs when a user places their cursor over an element.
The standard language for creating web pages and web applications.
The use of symbols to represent information and actions in a design.
The structural design of information to improve usability and findability.
A state of having too much information to make a decision or remain informed about a topic.
The creation of digital environments that facilitate user interaction.
Components of a user interface, such as buttons and icons.
A design language developed by Google, emphasizing paper-like visual qualities and animations.
Small user interactions that enhance the user experience, like a button animation.
A design approach that emphasizes simplicity and the removal of superfluous elements.
The practice of designing a website for smaller screens first, then adding more features for larger screens.
A visual tool consisting of images and colors that represent a project's style.
A branch of artificial intelligence that enables computers to understand, interpret, and respond to human language in a valuable way.
Conventional methods for designing website navigation.
Empty space around design elements, helping to separate and group items.
A semi-fictional character based on research to represent a user type.
The process of customizing user experiences to meet individual needs based on specific data.
The number of pixels in a digital image or display.
The use of data and statistical algorithms to predict future outcomes based on historical data.
A preliminary model of a product used to demonstrate or test design concepts.
A design pattern for user interfaces that presents information in cards (e.g., Pinterest).
Reducing information into smaller, digestible chunks to help users process, understand, and remember it more easily.
The amount of mental effort required to operate a user interface, ideally minimized in good design.
A set of rules regarding how colors interact and their psychological effects.
Colors directly opposite each other on the color wheel, offering strong visual contrast.
A user interface style that uses dark background colors with light text, often used to reduce eye strain.
Ten principles for good design articulated by the influential industrial designer, emphasizing simplicity and functionality.
The measurement of where and how users look at a page or screen, used to assess visual attention.
A concept from ergonomics stating that the time required to move to a target area is a function of the distance and the size of the target.
An arrangement of content into columns and rows, which helps to structure and organize information visually.
The prominent, large banner image or block at the top of a website or webpage.
Adapting Maslow's hierarchy to prioritize user needs from basic functional to higher-level psychological and self-fulfillment needs.
An interactive representation of the final product used for testing and evaluation.
A smooth transition between colors, often used to add visual interest or highlight elements.
Design methodology focused on the preferences, behaviors, and needs of the end-user.
Clues in the design that hint at what elements can do, such as buttons designed to look pushable.
An immersive digital environment that users can interact with in a seemingly real or physical way.
Design technique creating a three-dimensional look on a flat surface, often used in illustrations and UI elements.
Principles and guidelines that serve as a foundation for good user experience design.
Interaction with a computer interface via spoken commands.
Editor's picks.
Explore Experience Design: The practice of designing products, processes, services, events, and environments with a focus placed…
Explore entry →What is UsabilityUsabilityExplore Usability: A concept from ergonomics stating that the time required to move to a target area is a function of the…
Explore entry →What is Design SprintDesign SprintExplore Design Sprint: A time-constrained process where a team collaborates to answer critical business questions through…
Explore entry →What is Natural Language Processing (NLP)Natural Language Processing (NLP)Explore Natural Language Processing (NLP): A branch of artificial intelligence that enables computers to understand, interpret,…
Explore entry →What is User ResearchUser ResearchExplore User Research: Adapting Maslow's hierarchy to prioritize user needs from basic functional to higher-level psychological…
Explore entry →What is EthnographyEthnographyExplore Ethnography: The study of people in their natural environment through observation and interviews to understand their…
Explore entry →The vocabulary in practice.
See how leading studios apply this vocabulary across award-winning launches.
The annual ranking of studios producing the most decorated digital work.
The criteria the editorial jury uses to evaluate craft, usability, and innovation.
Long-form analysis on craft, technology, and the language behind digital design.
Frequently asked.
An editorial dictionary of UX, UI, accessibility, performance, and front-end development terminology used across Web Design Awards reviews. Each entry defines the concept and links it back to award-winning examples in the archive.
Entries are added by the editorial team when a term recurs in jury notes, nominee reviews, or rubric evaluations. Priority goes to vocabulary that affects how digital craft is judged: interaction patterns, performance metrics, accessibility standards, and visual design language.
Yes. New definitions are published as the editorial team encounters emerging vocabulary in nominations and reviews, and existing entries are revised when standards or best practices shift.
Use the Suggest a term link to send the editorial team a definition request. Suggestions are reviewed and added when the term is broadly relevant to the way the award evaluates web design work.
Every entry has a stable canonical URL under /terminologies/[slug]. Definitions can be cited or linked from external articles, agency case studies, or design documentation.
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