ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

User intent

User intent is when someone uses a computer or other technology to do something. For example, when you type a question into a search engine, your intent is to find an answer to that question. User intent is important because technology can only do what a person tells it to do. So, if you type in the wrong words or don't explain your intent clearly, the technology won't be able to understand what you are trying to do. That's why it's important to be clear about what you want the technology to do when you use it.