user-flows-and-guided-paths

# User Flows and Guided Paths Related features that belong together should be experienced as a single coherent journey — not as separate screens the user has to navigate between manually. A well-designed flow feels inevitable: each step leads naturally to the next, the user always knows where they are and what comes next, and the path fits the product's information hierarchy. ## When to Guide vs. When to Let Users Explore | Scenario | Pattern | |---|---| | Linear process with a clear end goal (checkout, signup, setup) | Guided step-by-step flow or wizard | | Complex task that benefits from breaking into stages | Wizard with progress indicator | | Feature discovery across an existing product | Contextual tooltips or coach marks | | User returning to complete something they started | Resume prompt with clear re-entry point | | Open-ended exploration (dashboard, settings) | Free navigation — do not force a flow | Only guide when the task genuinely has a natural order. Forcing a wizard onto a non-sequential task frustrates users who already know what they want. ## The Wizard Pattern Use a wizard when: - The task has 3 or more sequential steps - Later steps depend on decisions made in earlier steps - Doing all steps on one screen would overwhelm the user ### Wizard anatomy ``` [Step indicator: 1 of 4] Step title [Form content for this step] [Back] [Continue →] ``` **Step indicator:** Always show the user where they are in the sequence and how many steps remain. A pr...