UX vs. UI: what's the difference?

UX and UI are related but distinct parts of design, and knowing the difference helps you understand what makes a website genuinely good — not just good-looking.

UX (user experience)

UX is the overall experience of using your site — how easy it is to find things, complete tasks, and reach a goal. Good UX means visitors get what they came for without friction.

UI (user interface)

UI is the visual and interactive layer — buttons, colours, layout, typography. Good UI makes the interface clear, attractive, and easy to operate.

You need both

Beautiful UI with poor UX is frustrating; great UX with ugly UI feels unprofessional. The best websites get both right, so the site both works well and looks the part.