# Interaction Design Patterns

## Overview

Interaction design focuses on creating engaging interfaces with well-thought-out behaviors. It involves designing the flow and behavior of interactive systems to enable users to achieve their goals effectively and efficiently.

## Core Principles

### Affordances
- Perceived and actual properties
- Suggest how to use
- Clear what can be done
- Visual cues
- Intuitive interactions

### Feedback
- Immediate response
- Clear status
- Progress indication
- Error messages
- Success confirmations

### Constraints
- Prevent errors
- Guide users
- Limit options
- Provide guidance
- Clear boundaries

### Mapping
- Clear relationships
- Logical connections
- Intuitive controls
- Natural mappings
- Obvious connections

## Common Interaction Patterns

### Buttons
- Primary actions
- Secondary actions
- Destructive actions
- Icon buttons
- Text buttons

**Best Practices:**
- Clear labels
- Appropriate size
- Visible states
- Consistent styling
- Accessible

### Forms
- Input fields
- Validation
- Error handling
- Help text
- Submission

**Best Practices:**
- Clear labels
- Inline validation
- Error messages
- Help text
- Success feedback

### Navigation
- Primary navigation
- Secondary navigation
- Breadcrumbs
- Pagination
- Search

**Best Practices:**
- Clear structure
- Consistent placement
- Visible current location
- Easy to understand
- Accessible

### Modals and Dialogs
- Confirmation dialogs
- Information dialogs
- Form dialogs
- Alert dialogs

**Best Practices:**
- Clear purpose
- Focusable
- Keyboard accessible
- Escape to close
- Focus management

### Dropdowns and Menus
- Dropdown menus
- Context menus
- Navigation menus
- Action menus

**Best Practices:**
- Clear labels
- Keyboard accessible
- Logical grouping
- Visible selection
- Easy to close

## Micro-interactions

### Hover States
- Visual feedback
- Additional information
- Preview content
- Clear indication
- Smooth transitions

### Click/Tap Feedback
- Immediate response
- Visual feedback
- Haptic feedback (mobile)
- Clear indication
- Satisfying interaction

### Loading States
- Progress indicators
- Skeleton screens
- Loading spinners
- Progress bars
- Status messages

### Error States
- Clear error messages
- Visual indicators
- Helpful guidance
- Recovery options
- Accessible

### Success States
- Confirmation messages
- Visual feedback
- Clear indication
- Next steps
- Positive reinforcement

## Gesture Interactions

### Touch Gestures
- Tap
- Long press
- Swipe
- Pinch to zoom
- Drag and drop

**Best Practices:**
- Discoverable
- Consistent
- Reversible
- Feedback
- Accessible alternatives

### Mouse Interactions
- Click
- Hover
- Right-click
- Drag
- Scroll

**Best Practices:**
- Clear affordances
- Immediate feedback
- Consistent behavior
- Accessible
- Keyboard alternatives

## Feedback Mechanisms

### Visual Feedback
- Color changes
- Animations
- Transitions
- Highlights
- Status indicators

### Audio Feedback
- Sound effects
- Notifications
- Confirmation sounds
- Error sounds
- Optional audio

### Haptic Feedback
- Vibration
- Tactile response
- Force feedback
- Mobile devices
- Enhanced experience

## Error Handling

### Error Prevention
- Input validation
- Confirmation dialogs
- Constraints
- Clear instructions
- Helpful guidance

### Error Messages
- Clear language
- Specific problems
- Constructive solutions
- Helpful links
- Recovery options

### Error Recovery
- Undo functionality
- Retry options
- Alternative paths
- Help resources
- Support contact

## Progressive Disclosure

### Concept
- Show essential first
- Reveal details on demand
- Reduce cognitive load
- Focused interface
- Expandable sections

### Implementation
- Collapsible sections
- Tabs
- Accordions
- Modals
- Tooltips

## Responsive Interactions

### Touch Targets
- Adequate size (44x44px)
- Proper spacing
- Easy to tap
- No accidental taps
- Clear targets

### Adaptive Layouts
- Responsive design
- Flexible layouts
- Touch-friendly
- Optimized for device
- Consistent experience

## Animation and Transitions

### Purpose
- Provide feedback
- Show relationships
- Guide attention
- Enhance understanding
- Delight users

### Best Practices
- Subtle and purposeful
- Fast and smooth
- Respect user preferences
- Don't distract
- Enhance usability

## Accessibility in Interactions

### Keyboard Navigation
- All functions keyboard accessible
- Logical tab order
- Visible focus indicators
- Keyboard shortcuts
- No keyboard traps

### Screen Reader Support
- Proper ARIA labels
- Status announcements
- Role attributes
- Live regions
- Accessible names

## Best Practices

### 1. Clear Affordances
- Obvious what can be done
- Visual cues
- Consistent patterns
- Discoverable features
- Intuitive interactions

### 2. Immediate Feedback
- Instant response
- Clear status
- Progress indication
- Error messages
- Success confirmations

### 3. Error Prevention
- Validate input
- Confirm actions
- Provide constraints
- Clear instructions
- Prevent mistakes

### 4. Consistency
- Consistent patterns
- Predictable behavior
- Familiar interactions
- Standard conventions
- Cohesive experience

### 5. Accessibility
- Keyboard accessible
- Screen reader support
- Sufficient contrast
- Clear focus indicators
- Inclusive design

## Common Mistakes

### 1. Unclear Affordances
- Not obvious what to do
- Missing visual cues
- Inconsistent patterns
- Hidden features
- Confusing interactions

### 2. Poor Feedback
- No response
- Unclear status
- Missing indicators
- Silent failures
- No confirmation

### 3. Inaccessible Interactions
- Keyboard inaccessible
- No screen reader support
- Poor focus management
- Mouse-only interactions
- Excluding users

### 4. Overcomplicated
- Too many steps
- Complex interactions
- Unnecessary animations
- Cognitive overload
- Confusing flows

## Best Practices Summary

1. **Clear Affordances**: Obvious interactions
2. **Immediate Feedback**: Instant response
3. **Error Prevention**: Prevent mistakes
4. **Consistency**: Predictable patterns
5. **Accessibility**: Include all users
6. **Simplicity**: Reduce complexity
7. **Testing**: Test interactions
8. **Iteration**: Improve based on feedback
9. **Documentation**: Document patterns
10. **User-Centered**: Design for users

