Microcopy

Microcopy is the small bits of text that guide users through interfaces, including button labels, error messages, form hints, and tooltips. Microcopy helps users complete actions and recover from mistakes. These tiny phrases determine whether users succeed or give up.

Effective microcopy appears everywhere. For example, "Save as draft" clarifies what happens next, "Password needs 8+ characters" prevents errors, and "No results? Try different keywords" helps users recover. Good microcopy speaks the user's language, stays concise, and matches the situation's tone: friendly for welcomes, serious for warnings.