Cognitive Load
The amount of mental resources needed to understand and interact with an interface.
Key Takeaways
When incoming information exceeds available mental capacity, users struggle — tasks become harder, details slip through, and overwhelm sets in.
Intrinsic cognitive load involves the effort users expend absorbing new information, retaining relevant details, and pursuing their objectives.
Extraneous cognitive load encompasses mental processing that consumes resources without aiding comprehension, such as superfluous design elements or confusing navigation.
Origin
John Sweller developed cognitive load theory in the late 1980s while studying problem-solving, building on George Miller's earlier information processing work. His 1988 publication "Cognitive Load Theory, Learning Difficulty, and Instructional Design" established instructional design as a tool for reducing cognitive burden in learners. The theory distinguishes between intrinsic load (inherent difficulty), extraneous load (unnecessary difficulty from poor design), and germane load (effort toward building understanding).