What does information architecture refer to in UX design?

Information architecture in UX design primarily focuses on the organization and structuring of content within a software application or website. It involves creating a blueprint that determines how information is categorized, labeled, and navigated, ensuring that users can find what they need efficiently and intuitively. By emphasizing clear pathways and logical hierarchies, information architecture helps facilitate a better user experience by allowing users to easily understand the relationships between different pieces of content and navigate through the system.

While visual design, user research methods, and testing user interactions are all important aspects of UX design, they serve different purposes. Visual design is concerned with the aesthetics and overall look of the user interface, user research methods analyze user behaviors and needs, and testing user interactions focuses on evaluating how users engage with the design. Information architecture, however, is specifically about how content is organized and presented, making it pivotal for usability and ease of access.