Which design principle enables users to directly manipulate Web site objects?

• A. Visibility
• B. Consistency
• C. Affordance
• D. Feedback

Answer: (A)

Direct manipulation relies on affordances—the cues in a UI that reveal how an object can be used. When something looks draggable, resizable, or clickable, users instantly understand that they can interact with it directly: grab a handle to move, drag to rearrange, or push a control to activate it. These signals come from the design itself—visible grips, cursor changes, shading, or edge cues that indicate possible actions. Visibility is about noticing elements, but it doesn’t inherently tell you how to interact with them. Affordances provide the actionable guidance that makes direct manipulation intuitive, while feedback and consistency support the resulting interactions after they’ve started.