prototype
The first or early form of a new product or design, made to see if the idea works before making many copies.
An original or early model of a product, system, or design that is built to test or show how the final version will work.
A person or thing that shows very clearly what a type of person or thing is like.
A person or thing that is a very clear and typical example of a particular group, style, or quality.
In psychology and linguistics, the most typical example of a group in people’s minds, which they use to judge other members of the group.
In cognitive science and linguistics, the most central or typical example of a category in how people mentally represent that category.
To make an early version of a new product or design so you can test the idea and see problems before the final version.
To create an early model or version of a product, system, or design in order to explore, test, or demonstrate how it will work.
- Base: prototype
- Plural: prototypes
- Base: prototype
- 3rd Person Singular: prototypes
- Present Participle: prototyping
- Past: prototyped
alpha prototype
1very early internal test version
A very early version of a product, tested inside the company to find big problems before it is shown to more people.
- The alpha prototype is only for internal testing and will be very unstable.
- Our alpha prototype has all the main features but still many bugs.
- They plan to move from the alpha prototype to a public beta next quarter.
high-fidelity prototype
1detailed, realistic version of a design
A detailed prototype that looks and works very much like the final product.
- At this stage, we need a high-fidelity prototype to test the visual design.
- The high-fidelity prototype includes real data and smooth animations.
- They moved from sketches to a high-fidelity prototype in just two weeks.
low-fidelity prototype
1simple, rough version of a design
A quick and simple prototype that does not look like the final product but helps test basic ideas.
- We started with a low-fidelity prototype to explore different layouts.
- Low-fidelity prototypes are great for getting early feedback from users.
- The team built several low-fidelity prototypes before choosing one direction.
paper prototype
1simple paper model of a design
A simple model of a website, app, or product made with paper, used to show or test how it will work.
- We started with a paper prototype of the app to test the main screens.
- The designer used a paper prototype in the first user test.
- Paper prototypes are cheap and fast to change.
proof-of-concept prototype
1prototype to show an idea can work
A simple prototype made to show that an idea or new technology can really work in the real world.
- They built a proof-of-concept prototype to show that the engine could run on hydrogen.
- The proof-of-concept prototype was ugly, but it proved the system was possible.
- Once the proof-of-concept prototype succeeded, the company funded a full product team.
prototype phase
1stage when prototypes are built
The stage in a project when the team builds and tests early versions of the product or design.
- We are still in the prototype phase, so the design may change a lot.
- During the prototype phase, they tested different materials for the casing.
- The project will move out of the prototype phase once we pick a final design.
rapid prototyping
1quickly creating test models
Creating early versions of a product or design very fast, often many times, to test ideas and improve them.
- Rapid prototyping allowed the team to test three different product ideas in just one week.
- With 3D printers, rapid prototyping has become much cheaper for small companies.
- The workshop focuses on rapid prototyping so designers can learn from user feedback quickly.
working prototype
1prototype that actually works
An early version of a product that is not final but already works well enough to show its main functions.
- The engineers finally have a working prototype of the robot.
- Investors wanted to see a working prototype before giving more money.
- We built a working prototype in three months, but it still needs many improvements.