UI-Patterns
Old-school pattern library that explains the problem each interface pattern solves before it shows you examples.
Opens in a new tab. We do not control this site and it may have changed since we catalogued it.
How to get the most from it
UI-Patterns sits in UI & UX Libraries under Make, filed as coffee break.
- Set aside five to fifteen minutes and give it your proper attention.
- Use a laptop or desktop computer — we file it as desktop only.
- It works with the sound off, so it is fine on a train or in a quiet office.
- No account needed — you can start without signing up.
- Go in expecting something brainy and useful.
About this category: Pattern libraries, dark-pattern catalogues, component galleries and laws-of-UX summaries. The bookmarks that actually get reopened.
Good for
- Filling a coffee break properly
- Giving your brain a workout
- Getting something practical done
- A quiet break at your desk
- Trying it with zero commitment
UI-Patterns: quick answers
Is UI-Patterns free?
Yes. UI-Patterns is free to use and needs no account.
Do I need an account to use UI-Patterns?
No. You can use UI-Patterns without signing up for anything.
Does UI-Patterns work on a phone?
Not well. We file UI-Patterns as desktop only, so open it on a laptop or desktop computer.
Is UI-Patterns safe for work?
Yes, we file it as safe for work. It also works muted.
How long does UI-Patterns take?
We file it as "Coffee break": Five to fifteen minutes of proper attention.
More in UI & UX Libraries
All 15 in UI & UX LibrariesThe industry's awards site, and the fastest way to find out what the ambitious end of web design is doing this month.
- 1 hr+
- Desktop
Per-component checklists — buttons, forms, cards, empty states — covering the things everyone forgets until review.
- 10 min
Screenshots of manipulative interfaces caught in the wild, named and dissected. Grimly entertaining reading.
- 10 min
Harry Brignull's catalogue of interfaces built to trick people, complete with a hall of shame and the resulting case law.
- 10 min
Same mood: brainy
All brainy sitesThe British Library's record of the UK web, collected under legal deposit — including sites their owners deleted years ago.
- 10 min
The community record of Cicada 3301, the recruitment puzzle whose final book has still never been deciphered.
You are an AI told to make paperclips, and you follow that instruction all the way to its conclusion. Four hours, one button to begin.
- 1 hr+
A roguelike you escape by editing the JavaScript that builds each level, which is considerably more forgiving than it sounds.
- 10 min
- Desktop
Keep exploring
Category
Time and mood
Have a site of your own? Suggest it for Detour or browse the AltFTool backlinks hub.