Glossary
Information scent
What is information scent?
Information scent is how strongly available cues suggest that a link or other path will lead to information a user seeks.
How it works
Information foraging theory borrows an idea from how animals search for food: follow cues that suggest a worthwhile destination. For people looking for information, the “scent” comes from what a link or surrounding context seems to promise. Labels, imagery and context help users estimate a destination’s relevance relative to the effort of reaching it. These cues influence navigation, but do not determine every choice or guarantee that a destination contains useful information.
Applied example
Compare “KB-4523: Network Configuration” with “Fix Wi-Fi Connection Problems.” A person whose Wi-Fi has stopped working has a much clearer reason to follow the second label. The destination still needs to deliver what the label promises, and a navigation test can show whether people choose the intended path.
Why it matters
A useful link tells people why it is worth following before they click. Internal codes and clever labels can make them guess. As Raluca Budiu explains, information foraging considers both expected relevance and the effort of reaching it. Good wording cannot rescue irrelevant content.