Website Development & User Experience Flashcards

Which HTTP status code should an ecommerce site return when a product URL is permanently moved to a new URL?

Answer: 301 Moved Permanently

A 301 redirect tells browsers and search engines the resource has permanently moved, preserving link equity.

What is the primary purpose of lazy loading images on an ecommerce product listing page?

Answer: Improve initial page load speed by deferring off-screen images

Lazy loading defers loading of images outside the viewport, reducing initial page weight and improving Time to Interactive.

A customer adds an item to their cart but is forced to create an account before checking out. What UX problem does this represent?

Answer: Forced account registration friction

Forced account creation is one of the top reasons for cart abandonment; guest checkout options significantly reduce this friction.

Which CSS technique allows ecommerce product grids to automatically adjust column count based on screen width without media queries?

Answer: CSS Grid with auto-fill and minmax()

CSS Grid's auto-fill combined with minmax() creates responsive grids that adapt column count based on available space.

What is the recommended maximum number of steps in an ecommerce checkout flow to minimize abandonment?

Answer: 3 to 5 steps

Research shows 3–5 steps balances necessary data collection with user patience, while one-page checkouts can feel overwhelming.

Which accessibility attribute is essential for ecommerce product images to comply with WCAG 2.1 guidelines?

Answer: alt attribute with descriptive text

The alt attribute provides text alternatives for screen readers, which is required for WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance.

An ecommerce site uses browser localStorage to persist cart data. What is the main limitation of this approach?

Answer: Cart data is lost when the user switches devices or browsers

localStorage is device and browser-specific, so cart contents won't sync across a user's phone, tablet, or other browsers.