user flow
compound.compound. the path a person takes through a website or app to finish a task. It shows every step they take from the start until they reach their goal.
compound. the path followed by a typical user on a website or mobile application to complete a specific task. It maps the sequence of screens and interactions from the entry point through to the final successful outcome.
The designer is mapping out the user flow for the checkout page.
By analyzing the user flow, the team discovered that many customers were getting confused and leaving the site before finishing their purchase.
Optimizing the user flow requires a deep understanding of user intent, as any unnecessary friction or redundant steps can significantly decrease the conversion rate of the application.
A compound formed from the noun user and the noun flow, the latter referring to a sequence of movements or a continuous stream. The term emerged from the discipline of information architecture to describe the progression of interactions within a digital interface.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Often used as a countable noun when referring to a specific path ('this user flow'), but can be uncountable when discussing the general concept of navigation design.
Last updated July 22, 2026