Interactive click modelling — sometimes called a functional prototype or coded prototype — involves building a working digital representation of a design using code, allowing users to interact with a realistic simulation of the final product. Unlike click dummies that swap static screens, interactive click models respond dynamically to user input, validate form entries, animate transitions, and simulate data states. They are the highest-fidelity form of pre-production prototype and are used when the realism of interaction matters more than speed of iteration.
What It Is
An interactive click model is a front-end implementation of the design — built in HTML/CSS/JavaScript, React, or similar web technologies — that looks and behaves like the real product without being connected to live backend systems. It uses hard-coded or mocked data, simulated API responses, and scripted interaction states to create the appearance and feel of functionality. Its value over simpler prototypes lies in its ability to test micro-interactions, animation timing, form behaviour, and responsive design — elements that static prototypes cannot adequately simulate.
How to Run It
- Define the interaction scenarios the prototype must support — limit to the three to five most critical user flows.
- Build the front-end implementation using production-ready code conventions to simplify handoff to development.
- Mock all data and API responses to simulate real product behaviour without backend dependencies.
- Test the prototype across the target device types and browsers to validate responsive design.
- Run usability test sessions using the coded prototype, focusing on interaction quality and micro-behaviour.
- Iterateiterate based on test findings; coded prototypes are easier to update than they appear.
When to Use It
Interactive click modelling is most valuable in the late design phase when the concept has been validated structurally and the focus shifts to refining the interactive quality of the experience. It is essential for testing complex interactions like gesture controls, animation sequences, drag-and-drop interfaces, and real-time form validation. Use it when stakeholders or development partners need a high-confidence representation of the intended experience before committing to full implementation.
Tips for Success
- Build coded prototypes collaboratively with front-end developers — the handoff savings and technical quality are significantly better when development is involved from the start.
- Focus on the riskiest interactions first: the coded prototype should answer the questions that lower-fidelity prototypes cannot.
- Avoid scope creep: a coded prototype is only more valuable than a click dummy if it tests something the click dummy cannot.
- Document the prototype's limitations explicitly: stakeholders viewing a coded prototype often forget it is a simulation, not a live product.
