What is the purpose of wireframes in web design?

• A. To establish the final color palette.
• B. To create animated effects for the site.
• C. To plan the layout and interactive features before development.
• D. To test server-side performance.

Answer: (C)

Wireframes focus on planning the layout and how users will move through the site, laying out where content, navigation, and interactive controls will sit on each page before any visual design or coding begins. This helps teams agree on information structure and user flows early, so decisions about placement and functionality can be tested and refined without getting sidetracked by colors, typography, or animations. Because wireframes are typically simple and grayscale, they keep attention on how the page is organized rather than on aesthetics, making it easier to spot potential usability issues and adjust the structure. Visual details like color palettes and animations come later in the design and development process, while performance testing happens during later stages, not in the wireframing phase.