Prototypes are one of the most important steps in the design process, yet prototyping is still confusing for some designers and project teams.

No wonder it’s unclear—a prototype can be almost anything, from a series of sketches representing different screens to a pixel-perfect prelaunch interface.

In this post, we’re going to define what prototyping is, explain different variations and how to make prototypes, and most importantly, dive into the ways they keep your UX design focused on users.

What Is a Prototype, Exactly?

The most basic definition of “prototype” is, “A simulation or sample version of a final product, which is used for testing prior to launch.” The goal of a prototype is to test products (and product ideas) before sinking lots of time and money into the final product.

Prototyping is essential for resolving usability issues before launch. It can also reveal areas that need improvement. Once a draft of your product idea is in the hands of real users, you’ll finally see how they want to use the product. You can then go back and adjust your initial guesswork.

Prototypes have 4 main qualities:

• Representation — The actual form of the prototype, i.e., paper and mobile, or HTML and desktop.
• Precision — The fidelity of the prototype, meaning its level of detail, polish, and realism.
• Interactivity — The functionality open to the user, e.g., fully functional, partially functional, or view-only
• Evolution — The lifecycle of the prototype. Some are built quickly, tested, thrown away, and then replaced with an improved version (this is known as “rapid prototyping”). Others may be built and improved upon, ultimately evolving into the final product.