- call to action buttons;
- icons;
- web form fields;
- links;
- images.
Physical affordance
Physical affordance is based on an object’s physical appearance. Visually, this type of affordance makes instantly clear to a user what action is expected of him in a design’s interface. These are the most straightforward of affordances, and you’ve likely encountered them many times without even knowing what they were called. The whole point with physical affordances is that anyone ought to be able to guess what action they can perform just by looking at the affordances, especially those people who don’t have much experience browsing websites. That’s why physical affordances have to be pretty blatant.
Language affordance
A language affordance is another very straightforward kind of affordance. Essentially, it directly communicates to the user that a button or a field affords a specific kind of action. This leaves absolutely no room to the imagination as to what the intended action is, also making this affordance perfect for people with very little, or even no, site browsing experience. Language affordance is ideal in interface design when mere, visual communication is insufficient to effectively symbolize what action should be performed. For instance, people who haven’t seen many websites are likely not familiar with the magnifying glass symbol indicating “search” at the end of a search field. Smart designers will understand this and therefore supply an explicit, language affordance to leave no doubt what the action should be.
Pattern affordance
Pattern affordance is perhaps more common in web design than even the aforementioned, explicit affordances. That’s because, as the name implies, designers of all stripes utilize these affordances in their designs without so much as a second thought. Users are able to recognize and understand these types of affordances due to their commonality. Here are some examples of widely used pattern affordances:- navigation menu or bar;
- magnifying glass icon;
- links;
- downward arrow next to word or phrase.

Symbolic or iconic affordance
The affordance in an interface can be communicated simply through a symbol or icon. Sometimes called metaphorical affordances, these affordances rely on real-life, physical objects as icons to quickly tell users what action is expected of them. They work well in many, different instances, some of which you’re undoubtedly familiar with already:- an envelope to afford sending an email;
- a house to afford going back to a site’s homepage;
- a social media button to take you to a social media stream or channel.

Affordances are the key to great UX
Understanding what an affordance is — as well as the specific uniqueness between one type and another — can really distinguish you from other web designers. Think of affordances as the gateway to communication for your users. Without them, even the nicest-looking design would be totally useless because users wouldn’t be able to make sense of it one bit! Since the user experience is the highest priority for designers, making sure you have a solid understanding of affordances is essential. When your design’s done, it should be affordances that easily and effective empower users to use your design with the least friction possible.Marc Schenker
Marc’s a copywriter who covers design news for Web Designer Depot. Find out more about him at thegloriouscompanyltd.com.
Read Next
3 Essential Design Trends, December 2023
While we love the holidays, too much of a seasonal theme can get overwhelming. Thankfully, these design trends strike a…
10 Easy Ways to Make Money as a Web Designer
When you’re a web designer, the logical way to make money is designing websites; you can apply for a job at an agency,…
By Louise North
The 10 Most Hated Fonts of All Time
Remember when Comic Sans wasn’t the butt of the jokes? Long for the days when we actually enjoyed using the Impact…
15 Best New Fonts, November 2023
2023 is almost over, and the new fonts are still coming thick and fast. This month, we’ve found some awesome variable…
By Ben Moss
Old School Web Techniques Best Forgotten
When the web first entered the public consciousness back in the 90s, it was primarily text-based with minimal design…
By Simon Sterne
20 Best New Websites, November 2023
As the nights draw in for the Northern hemisphere, what better way to brighten your day than by soaking up some design…
30 Amazing Chrome Extensions for Designers and Developers
Searching for a tool to make cross-platform design a breeze? Desperate for an extension that helps you figure out the…
By Robert Reeve
Exciting New Tools for Designers, November 2023
We’ve got a mix of handy image helpers, useful design assets, and clever productivity tools, amongst other treats. Some…
The Dangers of Doomscrolling for Designers and How to Break Free
As a creative professional, navigating the digital realm is second nature to you. It’s normal to follow an endless…
By Louise North
From Image Adjustments to AI: Photoshop Through the Years
Remember when Merriam-Webster added Photoshop to the dictionary back in 2008? Want to learn how AI is changing design…
By Max Walton
3 Essential Design Trends, November 2023
In the season of giving thanks, we often think of comfort and tradition. These are common themes with each of our three…
30 Obsolete Technologies that will Perplex Post-2000s Kids
Remember the screech of dial-up internet? Hold fond memories of arcade machines? In this list, we’re condensing down 30…