Elements of a user interface
- Navigation: menus, links, breadcrumbs, tabs and search.
- Input controls: buttons, form fields, checkboxes and dropdowns.
- Information: text, icons, images, notifications and progress indicators.
- Layout: the grid, spacing and visual hierarchy that organize it all.
Principles of good UI design
- Clarity: people understand at a glance what each element does.
- Consistency: the same actions look and work the same way everywhere.
- Feedback: the interface shows what happened after every action.
- Accessibility: enough contrast, readable text, keyboard access and labels for screen readers.
- Mobile first: touch targets large enough, and layouts that work on small screens.
UI vs UX
UI is the look and feel of the screens, while user experience (UX) is the whole experience of using the product, including structure, content and speed. A beautiful UI can still give a poor UX if people can’t find what they need.