What are user personas primarily used for in UX design?

User personas are primarily used in UX design to represent different user types that interaction designers might encounter while working on a product or service. These personas are fictional yet realistic profiles created based on user research and data, and they embody the characteristics, needs, behaviors, and goals of actual users. By developing user personas, designers can gain a deeper understanding of their target audience, which helps them make informed design decisions that cater to the preferences and interactions of those users.

This representation allows design teams to empathize with users, ensuring that the solutions they create address specific user needs effectively. User personas serve as a reference point throughout the design process, keeping the team focused on the end-users' perspectives and improving the overall user experience. In contrast, other options relate to different aspects of business or product strategy that are not the primary function of user personas in the design context.