Empty states: designing for when there's nothing to show

An 'empty state' is what a visitor sees when there's nothing to display yet — no search results, an empty cart, a fresh account. These moments are easy to neglect, but a good empty state turns a dead end into a helpful nudge.

What a good empty state does

• •Explains why it's empty, without feeling like an error.
• •Suggests a helpful next step ('try a different search', 'browse popular items').
• •Stays friendly and on-brand.

Don't leave people stuck

A blank 'no results' screen is a dead end; a thoughtful one guides the visitor onward. These small touches are part of what makes a site feel considered and easy to use.