/ˌjuː-ˈɛks/
n. “The feeling you get while interacting with a product.”
UX, short for User Experience, refers to the overall experience a person has when interacting with a product, system, or service. Unlike UI, which focuses on visual and interactive elements, UX encompasses the broader journey — how intuitive, efficient, satisfying, and meaningful the interaction feels from start to finish.
Core aspects of UX include:
- Usability: How easily users can accomplish their goals with the product.
- Accessibility: Ensuring the product is usable by people with varying abilities, devices, and contexts.
- Information Architecture: The organization, hierarchy, and labeling of content to support navigation and comprehension.
- Interaction Design: How the system responds to user actions, including feedback, animations, and error handling.
- Emotional Impact: How the product makes the user feel — confident, delighted, frustrated, or satisfied.
UX design is inherently user-centered. It relies on research, testing, and iteration to ensure the product meets the real needs of its audience. Methods include user interviews, personas, wireframes, prototypes, and A/B testing.
Here’s a conceptual example of UX principles in action using a simple login form:
<form>
<label for="email">Email Address</label>
<input type="email" id="email" name="email" placeholder="you@example.com" required>
<label for="password">Password</label>
<input type="password" id="password" name="password" placeholder="••••••••" required>
<button type="submit">Sign In</button>
<small><a href="#">Forgot your password?</a></small>
</form>In this example, UX considerations include clear labels, placeholder guidance, accessible form fields, and a helpful link for password recovery — all designed to make the user’s journey smooth and frustration-free.
In essence, UX is the art and science of designing experiences that feel intuitive, efficient, and satisfying. A product may look beautiful (UI), but without solid UX, users can feel lost, frustrated, or disengaged.