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Software Engineering vocabulary · Web, Mobile and Interface Development

Empty state

Meaning in software engineering, with examples

nounCommon term

In software engineering, empty state means: What a screen shows when there is no content yet, such as an empty inbox, a search with no results or a new account with no projects.

In Turkish: boş durum, boş durum ekranı

How it is used

A good empty state explains what will appear there and offers a clear next step ('Create your first project'), often with a small illustration. It is easy to forget during design, so reviewers often ask for it.

Example sentences

  1. The empty state on the favourites page just says 'No items', which isn't very helpful.

  2. Design the empty state too, because every new user sees it first.

Common collocations

  • design the empty state
  • empty state illustration
  • helpful empty state
  • zero-results state
  • onboardingThe first screens a new user goes through after installing an app, which explain the main features, ask for permissions or help set up an account.
  • edge caseAn unusual situation at the limits of what a program expects, such as an empty list, a very long name or a date like 29 February.
  • error messageText that a program shows when something goes wrong, saying what failed and sometimes why, for example 'File not found' or 'Connection refused'.
  • microcopyThe short pieces of text in an interface, such as button labels, hints, error messages and confirmations, that guide users through a task.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Web, Mobile and Interface Development

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