Rapid Prototyping
Rapid prototyping is the practice of quickly building early, simplified versions of a product, feature, or interface so teams can test ideas with users and stakeholders before committing to full development.
A prototype is a learning tool. It helps a team answer specific questions, such as whether people understand a workflow or whether a concept is technically feasible, at a fraction of the cost of building the real thing. Prototypes range from low fidelity, like paper sketches, to high fidelity, like interactive designs or working code. The term is also used in manufacturing for methods like 3D printing, but in software it refers to design and code prototypes. Speed matters because the goal is to get feedback while changes are still cheap to make.
A prototype is different from a minimum viable product (MVP). An MVP is released to real customers, while a prototype is usually meant to be tested and then thrown away or rebuilt. AI tools now make it faster to produce working prototypes, but the purpose stays the same: learn early and change direction cheaply. Teams also use prototypes to align stakeholders, since a working example is easier to discuss than a written requirement.
Examples
Paper sketches. Hand-drawn screens for early concept feedback.
Wireframes. Simple layouts that show structure and flow.
Clickable prototypes. Linked screens that simulate how a product works.
Coded prototypes. Working software built to test feasibility or real data.
