The total mental effort a design demands to be understood and used. Cluttered layouts, jargon, and too many choices raise cognitive load and tire or confuse people.
Synonyms
- mental effort
- mental load
Related terms
In plain words
- how hard a screen makes your brain work
- the mental effort of figuring something out
Usage example
Splitting the long form into steps lowered cognitive load and cut abandonment.
Don't confuse with…
- hick's lawCognitive load is the overall mental burden; Hick's Law is one cause of it, describing how more choices slow decisions.
Categories
- Usability principles