dark pattern
/dɑːrk ˈpætərn/
CommonA UI design trick that manipulates you into doing something you did not intend.
Neutral in UX research contexts but loaded with criticism when used colloquially. Calling something a dark pattern is an accusation.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | making the unsubscribe button light gray on a white background is a dark pattern, not a design choice | The low-contrast button is intentional, not accidental, and is meant to prevent cancellations. | x, 2023 |
| 02 | Amazon added 3 items to my cart during checkout that I never clicked. dark patterns are so normal now we don't even notice | Unsolicited cart additions are a form of deceptive UI that has become so common it goes unnoticed. | reddit, 2024 |
| 03 | the cookie banner that makes Accept one click and Reject takes 6 clicks is the oldest dark pattern in the book | Asymmetric consent design is a deliberately deceptive practice to maximize data collection. | x, 2023 |
| 04 | the confirm-shaming on this cancel page is wild. 'no thanks, I don't want to save money' | The phrasing guilts users into not canceling rather than offering a neutral choice. | reddit, 2023 |
Use it when
- A website uses confusing design to get you to click something unintended.
- An app hides the cancel or unsubscribe option on purpose.
- A checkout page sneaks items into your cart.
- A cookie consent dialog makes the reject button tiny or hidden.
Do not use it when
- You just mean bad or ugly design.Use “bad UX” instead.
- You mean a regular software bug.
Dark pattern vs bad UX
dark pattern
A dark pattern is intentional deception designed to benefit the company at the user's expense.
VS
bad-ux
Bad UX is poor design that frustrates users unintentionally.
Origin and context
Coined by UX designer Harry Brignull in 2010, who created a dedicated site cataloging examples. The term gained mainstream recognition as regulators began investigating deceptive UI practices, with the FTC and EU taking enforcement action in the early 2020s.
- First seen
- 2010
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/dark-patternUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0