Affordance

Visual cues that suggest how an element can be used, such as a raised button appearing clickable or an underlined word suggesting a link. Affordances draw on learned conventions and physical metaphors to make interfaces intuitive without instructions. Strong affordances reduce learning curves and help users discover functionality naturally.

Related terms

Related terms

  • Flat Design

    Design

    A minimalist design style emphasizing clean shapes, bright colors, and two-dimensional elements without shadows, gradients, or textures. Flat design emerged as a reaction to skeuomorphism and dominates modern digital interfaces. While visually clean, ensure sufficient visual hierarchy and affordances for usability.