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Psychology

Recognition Over Recall.

Show options instead of making people remember them.

01 / THE IDEA

What does it mean?

People find it easier to recognize visible choices than retrieve details from memory. Interfaces should keep relevant information accessible.

02 / IN PRACTICE

Make it concrete.

Illustrative example: A recently used address appears as a selectable option instead of requiring someone to type it again.

03 / WHAT TO WATCH FOR

A common mistake.

Hiding essential commands behind memorized shortcuts.

04 / WHEN IT HELPS

When should you use it?

When an interface asks users to remember values or steps from another screen.

05 / FURTHER READING

Explore the source.

Nielsen Norman Group — Usability Heuristics ↗

A reference for further learning, not an endorsement or verbatim quotation.