Prototype
A preliminary model used to explore or test how a product or interaction might work.
Plain English
A test version built to learn before full implementation.
In context
Prototypes range from clickable mockups to coded experiments and should match the question being tested.
Example
“We will test the prototype with five users.”
When you'll hear this
- product discovery
- usability testing
- technical exploration
Common misunderstanding
A prototype is built for learning and may not meet production quality or architecture needs.
Also known as
proof of concept
Commonly used by
Related terms
Often compared with
Updated: 2026-08-25
