Law of Similarity

Things that look alike are seen as related, or as doing the same job.

Why it matters

If a link looks like plain text, or plain text looks like a link, people get it wrong.

How to use it

  • Style all links and buttons consistently.
  • Do not style non-clickable items like buttons.
  • Use differences only where the meaning differs.

Example

If every primary button is blue, a new blue button is understood immediately.

Go deeper: Laws of UX