Product
https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/product
Last changed: 2026-11-14. Dates track content changes, not independent source checks.
Prototype
Concept
An early, rough version of a product made to test an idea or show others what you mean.
UX / UI
Concept
UI, the user interface, is what people see and tap on the screen.
Customer discovery
Concept
Talking with possible customers to learn about their problems before you build, so that you build…
MVP
Concept
Minimum viable product.
Scope
Concept
The agreed list of what a project will include and what it will not.
Dashboard
Concept
A screen that shows the important numbers for a product or a business at a glance, usually as…
Backlog
Concept
The running list of new abilities, fixes and ideas waiting to be worked on, usually in order of…
Roadmap
Concept
A plan that shows what you intend to build and in roughly what order.
Product-market fit
Concept
The point where you have built something a clear group of customers really wants.
Web analytics
Concept
Measuring how people find and use a website or app: how many visit, where they come from and what…
Wireframe
Concept
A simple outline drawing of a screen that shows where things go, without colors or finished design.
Target customer
Concept
The specific kind of person or company you are building for and selling to first.
Video editing
Concept
Cutting, arranging and finishing recorded video, with titles, music and color, before it is…
Design system
Concept
A shared set of design rules and ready-made interface pieces, such as buttons, colors and type, so…
Human Interface Guidelines
Concept
Apple's official design guidance for apps on its platforms.
Onboarding
Concept
The first steps a new user takes in a product: signing up, setting it up and learning enough to…
Product requirements document
Concept
A document that explains what a product or feature should do, for whom and why, so the team agrees…
User story
Concept
One short sentence describing something a user needs to do and why, written from their point of…
Beta
Concept
A version of the product released to a limited group of people so you can find problems before the…
Design partner
Concept
An early customer who works closely with a startup to shape a product, giving regular feedback in…
User journey
Concept
The sequence of steps a person takes to reach a goal with a product, from first contact to done…
Bloom's Taxonomy
Concept
A framework from education that orders levels of learning from simpler to harder: remember…
Liquid Glass
Concept
Apple's design material, introduced in 2025, that looks like see-through glass, reflecting and…
Technical requirements document
Concept
A document that explains how a feature will be built: the systems, data and technical choices.
Vertical slice
Concept
A small piece of a product built all the way through, from screen to database to deployment, so it…
Aha moment
Concept
The point where a new user first feels the value of a product.
Atomic Design
Concept
A method for building design systems from small pieces up: basic elements (atoms) combine into…
Breadcrumb navigation
Concept
A short trail of links near the top of a page showing where it sits in a site, such as Home >…
Gamification
Concept
Adding game elements, such as points, badges, streaks or stamps, to a product or program to…
Haptic feedback
Concept
Small vibrations a device makes to confirm an action, such as a tap when a switch flips.
Microsite
Concept
A small website, separate from an organization's main site, built for one event, campaign or…
Mobile-first design
Concept
Designing for small phone screens first, then expanding the design for larger screens.
Pivot
Concept
A deliberate change of direction after learning that your current plan is not working.
Product manager vs program manager
Concept
Both are called PM.