The picture in someone's head of how a thing works, based on past experience. Designs feel intuitive when they match the user's mental model and confusing when they clash with it.
Synonyms
- conceptual model
Related terms
- metaphor
- consistency
- affordance
- convention
In plain words
- how someone assumes a thing works in their head
- the picture people already have of how it should behave
Usage example
A trash can icon taps the mental model that deleted items can still be recovered.
Don't confuse with…
- metaphorA mental model is the user's internal expectation; a metaphor is a design device, like a desktop folder, used to shape that expectation.
Categories
- Usability principles