What is the purpose of a prototype in application development?

A prototype in application development serves primarily as a representation of the application that facilitates testing and validation of concepts before final implementation. It allows developers, designers, and users to explore the functionality and user experience of the application early in the development cycle, ensuring that the product aligns with user needs and expectations.

By creating a prototype, teams can identify potential issues, gather feedback, and make necessary adjustments before committing to full-scale development. This iterative process can save time and resources by addressing concerns upfront, ultimately leading to a more refined final product.

While presenting to stakeholders can be a function of prototypes, it is usually more about gathering insights and staying aligned on expectations rather than finalizing a design or document. The prototyping phase emphasizes exploration, testing, and user interaction, which is essential in building a successful application.