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Dark Patterns is the set of cues that tell people what they can do next and why it makes sense. When it's strong, users move fast and feel confident.
Definition
Plain-English definition
Dark Patterns is the set of cues that tell people what they can do next and why it makes sense. When it's strong, users move fast and feel confident.
Why it matters
It shapes trust. When the interface keeps its promises, people keep moving.
Real-world example
A primary button that looks disabled but still works, or a menu icon with no label.
Full explanation
If you're unsure, ask a real user to try it cold. Their pause is your answer. The best version feels boring in a good way. Users get what they need and move on. You don't need perfection; you need a path that makes sense the first time through.
Dark Patterns is one of those UX words that sounds abstract until you see it in the wild. It's the relationship between what a user expects and what the interface actually does. If the interface keeps its promises, users trust it. If it surprises them in the wrong way, they stop exploring. Trust is the currency here.
If you're unsure, ask a real user to try it cold. Their pause is your answer. The best version feels boring in a good way. Users get what they need and move on. You don't need perfection; you need a path that makes sense the first time through.
If you've heard designers throw around Dark Patterns, here's the plain-English version. At its core, it's the set of cues that tell someone what they can do next and why that action makes sense. When Dark Patterns is strong, people move fast and feel smart. When it's weak, they hesitate, bounce, or blame themselves. That moment of hesitation is the signal.
Example: a checkout button that looks disabled but still works. That breaks trust fast. Or an icon-only toolbar with no labels. Experts might get it; beginners won't. Small decisions like these define the real experience, not the marketing copy.
If you're unsure, ask a real user to try it cold. Their pause is your answer. The best version feels boring in a good way. Users get what they need and move on. You don't need perfection; you need a path that makes sense the first time through.
Dark Patterns is one of those UX words that sounds abstract until you see it in the wild. It's the relationship between what a user expects and what the interface actually does. If the interface keeps its promises, users trust it. If it surprises them in the wrong way, they stop exploring. Trust is the currency here.
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