Prototyping software is used to create preliminary versions of web pages and applications. These tools build off of wireframes and add brand and design elements, interactions, and animations in order to simulate the final product. Prototypes help UI/UX designers to test page layouts, document errors, and iterate on drafts. UI/UX design teams use prototyping tools to increase the speed at which they build and improve their website and application drafts without the need of developers. Prototyping software helps save hefty development time and costs by allowing the testing and iteration process to occur prior to development.
There may be overlap in functionality between prototyping software products and wireframing software products. In the process of web or app development, wireframing takes place first, followed by prototyping. Wireframes are low-fidelity skeletons of a digital product with low functionality, while prototypes are high-fidelity visual representations of the end product. Wireframing products may have some prototyping functionality, and vice versa.
To qualify for inclusion in the Prototyping category, a product must:
- Provide a drag-and-drop interface to create interactive models of final applications
- Offer customizable templates to build prototypes
- Provide a library of UI components and icons
- Provide library of interactions and animations, such as touch events, gestures, and screen transitions
- Allow users to adjust fonts, colors, and sizing
- Offer collaboration tools to allow users to leave comments and annotations
- Enable exporting or sharing of prototypes
