What is a Prototype?
A Prototype is an early, often simplified version of a product or design used to test and validate concepts before final production. Prototypes are essential for exploring ideas, refining functionality, and gathering user feedback early in the development process. They vary in fidelity, from low-fidelity sketches and wireframes to high-fidelity interactive models that closely resemble the final product.
Prototyping allows teams to experiment with different design approaches, identify potential issues, and make informed decisions before committing to full-scale development. For example, a prototype of a new mobile app might start as a basic wireframe and evolve into a detailed interactive model, enabling designers to test user interactions and gather feedback on the user experience.