Laws of UX
Miller's Law
Working memory holds only a few items, so chunk information into groups.
Why it matters
Working memory holds only a handful of items. A raw 10-digit string is hard to hold.
Chunking into groups (like phone numbers or card numbers) makes the same amount of info far easier to remember. Format long codes in your UI.
How to apply it
- Format phone, card and code numbers in groups
- Split long forms into short sections
- Use headings and short lists to break up content
Common mistakes
- Unformatted long codes
- Long option lists with no grouping
Quick answers
What is Miller's Law?
Working memory holds only a few items, so chunk information into groups. Working memory holds only a handful of items. A raw 10-digit string is hard to hold.
How do I apply Miller's Law in UI design?
Format phone, card and code numbers in groups. Split long forms into short sections. Use headings and short lists to break up content.
What are common mistakes with Miller's Law?
Unformatted long codes. Long option lists with no grouping.