Cognitive Load

인지 부하

The total mental effort required to understand and use a screen. Higher load means more errors and more drop-off.

Also known as: Mental workload
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html
<div class="stage">
  <div class="pane">
    <div class="grid g16" id="g16"></div>
    <div class="gauge"><div class="needle n1"></div></div>
  </div>
  <div class="pane">
    <div class="grid g5" id="g5"></div>
    <div class="gauge"><div class="needle n2"></div></div>
  </div>
</div>
css
.stage{width:94%;height:90%;display:flex;gap:6%}
.pane{flex:1;display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:16px;padding:8px;border-radius:14px;border:1px solid var(--line);background:var(--surface)}
.grid{display:grid;gap:5px}
.g16{grid-template-columns:repeat(4,1fr)}
.g16 div{width:clamp(14px,4vmin,32px);height:clamp(14px,4vmin,32px);border-radius:6px;background:var(--accent-2);animation:flash 1s ease-in-out infinite}
.g5{grid-template-columns:repeat(5,1fr)}
.g5 div{width:clamp(14px,4vmin,32px);height:clamp(14px,4vmin,32px);border-radius:6px;background:var(--accent-3);opacity:.85}
@keyframes flash{0%,100%{opacity:.6}50%{opacity:1}}
.gauge{position:relative;width:82%;height:8px;border-radius:4px;background:linear-gradient(90deg,var(--accent-3),#f5c542,var(--accent-2))}
.needle{position:absolute;top:-4px;width:2px;height:16px;background:var(--fg)}
.n1{left:82%}
.n2{left:18%}
js
const g16 = document.getElementById('g16');
for (let i = 0; i < 16; i++) g16.appendChild(document.createElement('div'));
const g5 = document.getElementById('g5');
for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) g5.appendChild(document.createElement('div'));

Cognitive load theory was formalised by educational psychologist John Sweller in 1988, splitting load into intrinsic (the task's own difficulty), extraneous (unnecessary UI complexity), and germane (effort that genuinely aids understanding). In UX, the target for reduction is mostly extraneous load — noise unrelated to the task (redundant icons, inconsistent layout) eating into the brain's limited processing capacity.

Miller's Law (chunking), Hick's Law (fewer choices), and progressive disclosure are all concrete tactics for lowering cognitive load. The test isn't whether a screen *looks* complex — it's how much actually has to be processed.

Left has 16 equally emphasised icons and the load gauge swings into the red. Right groups just 5 clear options and the gauge stays low.

When to use

Once a screen crosses ~10 buttons or icons, suspect overload. Ask not "is this needed at all" but "is it needed right now."