4 ms·

What is affordance?

• aarongough 17y ago
  From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affordance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affordance It's always worthwhile doing a little research...
  • memetichazard 17y ago
    The wikipedia definition is a bit abstruce. One of the links in the external links section has a much better definition, and is more relevant to usability rather than being the more general definition: http://www.usabilityfirst.com/glossary/term_66.txl http://www.usabilityfirst.com/glossary/term_66.txl
• bhousel 17y ago
  An "action possibility". In other words, something in the design that lets the user know that you can do something. Once you start to think about affordances, you'll see them everywhere where good design is present. The classic example is with doors. If they have a knob, you know to turn. If they have a plate, you push there. If they have a vertical bar, you expect to pull on it. You can probably figure out how to get through the door without the affordance, but it would be frustrating. Look at some other objects around your house, especially kitchen, and think about the clues that the designers have given you to know how the objects are to be used. Edit: I highly recommend the Donald Norman's The Design of Everyday Things for anyone interested in an introduction to design concepts. Classic book, and a worthwhile read for software developers too.
  • JohnnyBrown 17y ago
    Thanks to both. Added to my wishlist.