What is a prototype?
A prototype is an interactive model of a page or product used to test how it works before it is fully built.
Definition
It can be clickable screens or a working build. AI website builders blur the line, because the first version they produce is already a working site.
Why it matters
Testing with something people can click reveals problems that static designs hide.
How to get it right
- Test the main journey end to end.
- Watch real people use it.
- Change it quickly between tests.
- Keep it as simple as the question you are testing.
Mistakes to avoid
- Over-polishing before testing
- Testing only with your own team
- Treating a prototype as finished
Related terms
- WireframeA wireframe is a simple, low-detail layout of a page that shows structure without visual design.
- MockupA mockup is a static, detailed picture of how a page will look, with real colours, type and images.
- A/B testingA/B testing compares two versions of a page by showing each to a share of visitors and measuring which converts better.
Orlume, the design-first AI website builder, gets the details on this page right for you: describe your site in one prompt and it decides the layout, type, colour and structure, builds it in React and Next.js and puts it live in one click.
Free to start · No card required · Live in one click
More design terms
Questions, answered.
The things people ask before they start building.
What is a prototype?
A prototype is an interactive model of a page or product used to test how it works before it is fully built. It can be clickable screens or a working build. AI website builders blur the line, because the first version they produce is already a working site.
Why does Prototype matter?
Testing with something people can click reveals problems that static designs hide.
How do you get prototype right?
Test the main journey end to end. Watch real people use it. Change it quickly between tests. Keep it as simple as the question you are testing.
Still stuck? Email usBuild something that doesn't look AI-made.
Describe the site you want. Watch it get designed, not just generated. Then publish it to its own orlume.site address.
- Free to start
- No card required
- Publish to a live URL
- You own the code