ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Mock-up

A mock-up is like a pretend version of something that someone wants to create in real life. It's like when you play with dolls and build a mini house for them out of cardboard and paper. A mock-up helps people visualize what the real thing will look like so they can make changes before actually building it.

In design, a mock-up is a digital or physical illustration of what a website, app, or product will look like when it's finished. It's like a pretend version of the final product. Designers create mock-ups to give clients an idea of what the design will look like and how it will function.

For example, if someone wants to build a website for their business, a designer will create a mock-up of the website. It will show what the home page will look like, where the buttons will go, and what the colors and fonts will be. This mock-up can be changed and adjusted before the designer builds the actual website.

Similarly, if a company is planning to produce a new product, they might create a mock-up or prototype first. This could be a physical model made out of clay or plastic, or a digital 3D model created on a computer. The mock-up will show what the product will look like and how it will work. This way, the company can test the design and make changes before spending a lot of money on production.

So, a mock-up is like a pretend version of something that helps people visualize what the final version will look like and make changes before building it in real life.