UX Laws Reference: Hick's Law
Psychology & UX Laws · ux laws
Updated 2026-07-28
- The more choices users have, the longer it takes them to decide.
- Reduce unnecessary options:
- Show the most common actions first.
- Hide advanced choices until needed.
- Group related decisions together.
- Do not confuse users with unlimited flexibility:
- More options create more thinking.
- More thinking creates slower decisions.
- Use progressive disclosure:
- Simple choices first.
- Complexity when requested.
- The goal is not fewer features. The goal is fewer decisions at one moment.
- Good interfaces reduce decision fatigue without removing capability.
Related guides
UX Handbook