Supportsoft Glossary

Wireframes Mapping App Structure and User Flow

Wireframes are primitive visual layouts that come into play in the initial stages of developing a website or software application. They are devoid of all the other visual elements and styles and thus, are merely concerned with the building and flow of the product. A wireframe is like an architect's blueprint, where it shows where the main elements are to be placed, the navigation is working, and the users can move from one screen to another.

The designers mainly rely on wireframes as a means of two-way communication and a way of thinking unblocked by time and resources needed for full design or development. These drafts are used to assess the whole layout for its logic, to check the positions of buttons and forms, and to conduct user journey tests. The creation of wireframes is a fast process that can sometimes be as simple as sketching them out on paper or whiteboards before transitioning to and elaborating on a software tool such as Figma, Balsamiq, or Sketch.

There are two main kinds of wireframes: low-fidelity wireframes, which are plain and crude, and high-fidelity wireframes, which are more refined and may contain clickable interactions. The two styles are mainly used for concept validation very early on, preventing misunderstanding and identifying usability problems before they get too costly to resolve.

Wireframes, by concentrating on the essentials, are able to bring forward the product’s goals, content order, and overall structure, thus aligning the teams.