User flow

A user flow is a schematic representation of the paths a user can take to accomplish a task in a digital product. It maps the decisions, the pages or screens gone through, the actions performed and the possible exits at each step. It is a design tool that helps ensure that all use cases are covered, including alternative paths and error cases.

The user flow is a top-down view of the product: it shows how screens follow one another and which decisions guide navigation. The wireframe is a front-on view: it shows what a specific screen contains. You generally design the user flows before the wireframes to make sure the navigation logic is consistent, then you detail each screen through the wireframes.

You start by defining the user's objective (e.g. « completing an order »), then you list all the necessary steps and the possible decisions at each step (with and without an account, payment accepted or refused, etc.). You represent these steps as a diagram with rectangles for the screens, diamonds for the decisions and arrows for the transitions. Tools like Figma, Miro or FigJam let you create these diagrams quickly.

Before mockup work. User flows are a tool for designing the navigation logic, not the interface. They let you detect missing or inconsistent paths before investing in the detailed design of the screens. They are also useful for aligning the technical team on the structure of the product and for making sure that edge cases (error, empty state, logged-out user) are anticipated.

By submitting it to users during a conceptual test: you show them the diagram and ask them to describe how they would accomplish a given task. You can also create a clickable prototype from the wireframes that follow the flow and observe whether users take the planned paths or whether they look for shortcuts or unanticipated alternatives. Deviations from the planned flow are priority signals for improvement.