What characterizes an Interaction Pattern?

An interaction pattern is characterized by its ability to facilitate user engagement through interactive components. This means that the pattern is designed to involve the user actively, encouraging actions and responses that enhance their experience. Such patterns are essential for creating dynamic applications where users can engage with different elements like buttons, sliders, and forms, leading to a more engaging and effective interface.

The focus on interactivity is crucial because it transforms a passive user experience into an active one, allowing users to input information, receive feedback, and navigate through the application in a meaningful way. This interactivity not only improves usability but also enhances the overall satisfaction of users as they interact with the application.

In contrast, options that emphasize static elements or purely visual aesthetics do not align with the nature of interaction patterns. Patterns that are focused solely on navigation elements might limit user engagement to just moving through the app without any interactive component, which detracts from the application's overall functionality and user experience. Thus, interactive components fundamentally characterize the core of what an interaction pattern aims to achieve.