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UX/UI Design vocabulary · Interaction Design

Dark pattern

Meaning in UX/UI design, with examples

nounCommon term

In UX/UI design, dark pattern means: A design that tricks or pressures users into doing something they did not intend, such as a hidden cancel button or a fake countdown timer.

In Turkish: karanlık desen, aldatıcı tasarım, manipülatif tasarım

How it is used

Coined by UX designer Harry Brignull in 2010; many now prefer 'deceptive pattern'. Examples include confirmshaming, sneaking items into the basket and making cancellation very hard. Regulators in several regions now act against them.

Example sentences

  1. Making 'Cancel subscription' grey and tiny is a dark pattern.

  2. Legal asked us to remove the pre-checked box because it looks like a dark pattern.

Common collocations

  • avoid dark patterns
  • use a dark pattern
  • deceptive pattern
  • ethical design
  • checkboxA small square that users click or tap to select or clear an option; several checkboxes in a group can be selected at the same time.
  • frictionAnything in an experience that slows users down or makes a task harder, such as extra steps, long forms, unclear labels or slow loading.
  • design patternA proven, reusable solution to a common interface problem, such as a search bar with suggestions, infinite scroll or a multi-step checkout.
  • inclusive designAn approach that designs for the full range of human diversity, including ability, age, language, culture and situation, so that more people can use a product.

More terms: Interaction Design

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