10 Mobile UX Patterns Every Designer Should Know

Master these 10 UX patterns to build intuitive mobile apps: bottom navigation, pull-to-refresh, skeleton screens, swipe actions, FAB, search with filters, onboarding, bottom sheets, empty states, and gesture navigation.

Great mobile apps feel intuitive because they follow established UX patterns. Here are 10 patterns every designer should know — and that Launchpad AI can generate for you.

1. Bottom Navigation

The most common navigation pattern for mobile apps. Keep it to 3-5 items, use clear icons with labels, and highlight the active tab.

2. Pull to Refresh

Users expect to pull down on content lists to refresh. Implement this on any scrollable content feed — it's become muscle memory for mobile users.

3. Skeleton Screens

Show placeholder content shapes while loading instead of spinners. This reduces perceived load time and gives users a sense of the layout before content arrives.

4. Swipe Actions

Let users swipe list items to reveal actions like delete, archive, or share. Keep actions discoverable with a subtle hint on first use.

5. Floating Action Button

A prominent circular button for the primary action on a screen. Use sparingly — one per screen maximum. Common for "compose", "add", or "create" actions.

6. Search with Filters

Combine a search bar with filter chips. Let users narrow results without navigating to a separate screen — inline filtering keeps context.

7. Onboarding Carousel

Introduce key features with a swipeable carousel on first launch. Keep it to 3-4 screens max, make it skippable, and focus on benefits, not features.

8. Bottom Sheet

Present additional content or actions in a bottom sheet instead of a full-screen modal. Users can dismiss by swiping down — it feels natural on mobile.

9. Empty States

Design meaningful empty states with illustrations and clear calls to action. Never show a blank screen — it's a missed opportunity to guide users.

10. Gesture Navigation

Support standard gestures — swipe back, pinch to zoom, long press for context menus. Follow platform conventions (iOS vs Android differ).

The best mobile apps don't reinvent interaction patterns — they perfect them. Start with what users already know, then add your unique touch.