Wireframe

1. A Web design term

A wireframe is a prototyping technique that shows how the links on a web site will work (once it is built). A wireframe drawing is used as part of the user requirement stage of web site creation. For example, a web agency often produce a wireframe for the client to sign off before full production starts.

2. A Computer Aided Design term

Three dimensional drawings on a CAD system always start off with a wireframe. The shape of the object is defined by a layer of joined up triangles or polygons, so the object looks as if it is made of wire. Once the wireframe has been designed, it is 'rendered' to form a textured, 3D object. The advantage of working with wireframe is that the slow rendering process is avoided during development.