The principle of showing people their options so they can recognise the right one, instead of forcing them to remember it from memory. Menus and visible labels rely on recognition; a blank command line relies on recall.
Synonyms
Related terms
In plain words
- showing choices instead of making people remember them
- letting people pick from a list rather than recall it
Usage example
A dropdown of recent files honours recognition over recall by sparing users from typing the name from memory.
Don't confuse with…
- cognitive loadRecognition over recall is a specific tactic; cognitive load is the broader mental effort that tactic aims to reduce.
Categories
- Usability principles