The components of information scent

Information scent helps users make educated guesses about how useful a webpage will be before we click on it. It has two main parts:

• The source: This is the actual webpage users might visit. This is where the real information is. However, users won't know how valuable the page is until they visit it and see the actual content.
• The representation: This is what users see before they click, like a link or a short summary. This gives them clues about what to expect on the actual webpage. For example, if users see a link titled "How to Fix a Flat Tire on Your Bike," they might guess it has the specific advice they need.

The estimated value users get from the representation helps them decide whether to click on the link. If they click and find useful information, the true value of the source matches their estimate. This means the link's information scent guided them to the right page.