What is a wireframe?

Wireframes are schematic, visual representations of websites, applications or other digital products. They are used to represent the basic structure, layout and functionality of a website or application in a simple and non-graphical way. Wireframes are usually simple, abstract drawings or models that are used to plan the basic design and interactions before starting the graphic design and programming.

The main features of wireframes are

1. Structure: Wireframes define the arrangement of elements on a page or in a user interface. This includes the positioning of text, images, buttons, forms and other design elements.
2. Hierarchy: Wireframes help define the visual hierarchy, including the size, spacing and arrangement of elements to clarify the meaning and relationship between them.
3. Navigation: They outline the navigation structure, showing page links, menus and buttons for interacting with other parts of the system or website.
4. Functionality: Wireframes show basic functions and interactions, e.g. clicking on buttons, filling out forms and navigating between pages.
5. Content presentation: They help with the placement of texts and images in order to plan the flow of information and the presentation of content.

Wireframes are useful tools during the design process as they allow designers, developers and stakeholders to develop a common understanding of the project early in the development process. They allow basic design decisions to be made without focusing on aesthetic aspects, saving time and resources.

Wireframes can be drawn by hand or created using special software tools. There are different types of wireframes, from simple, sketchy representations to detailed and interactive prototypes. Which type of wireframe is used depends on the requirements of the project and the needs of the stakeholders.