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Microinteractions are the small, subtle animations or responses in an app that happen when a user performs an action—like liking a post, toggling a setting, or receiving a notification.
Why It Matters
Why Founders Should Care About This Term:
- Creates a sense of delight and feedback, making your app feel polished and responsive
- Helps users understand cause-and-effect, improving overall usability
- Reinforces brand personality through consistent, thoughtful motion
- Reduces user errors by providing visual cues during interactions
Use This Term When...
- You're designing UI animations or refining user feedback loops
- You're improving the onboarding or empty state experience
- You're reviewing app polish before launch
- You're working with motion designers or frontend developers
Real-World Example
In one of our projects, we used microinteractions to give visual feedback when users added items to their wishlist. A quick bounce animation confirmed the action, improving confidence and interaction speed.
Founder Insight
Many founders think microinteractions are just “nice to have.” In reality, they're silent communicators that reduce confusion and make your app feel human. Users won’t say, “I love the microinteractions,” but they will say, “This app just feels right.”
Key Metrics / Concepts
- Engagement Rate – Microinteractions can subtly increase repeat usage
- Task Success Rate – Improves when users receive immediate, clear feedback
- Error Rate – Decreases with intuitive micro-cues (like toggles or tooltips)
Tools & Technologies
- Lottie by Airbnb – Lightweight animations for smooth microinteractions
- Figma Smart Animate – Preview and prototype micro-movements in UI
- Framer Motion – A React library for fluid, production-ready motion
What’s Next / Future Trends
AI-generated and adaptive microinteractions are becoming more common—systems that adjust based on user behavior, mood, or even accessibility needs. The future of UX is responsive, emotional, and deeply contextual.
Related Terms
- Micro Interactions – Alternate styling/spelling; both refer to the same UX concept involving small, focused interactions.
- UI Design – Microinteractions are core components that enhance visual feedback, navigation, and user delight.
- UX Design – Thoughtful microinteractions contribute to intuitive and engaging user experiences.
- Motion Design – Often used to animate microinteractions, such as button presses, toggles, and loading states.
- Personality – Microinteractions help convey your brand’s tone and personality subtly through interaction design.
Helpful Videos / Articles / Pages
Call to Action
Still unsure how micro interactions can elevate your app experience? Book a discovery call and we’ll walk you through the magic of small details done right.