Law of Proximity
Objects that are close to one another tend to be grouped together and perceived as a unit.
When to Use
Group related elements
Place related interface elements close together to help users understand their relationship.
Create visual hierarchy
Use spacing to create clear groupings and separate different sections or content areas.
Organize information
Structure content by placing related items in proximity to each other.
When to Avoid
Don't create false groupings
Avoid placing unrelated elements too close together, as users may incorrectly perceive them as related.
Origin
The Law of Proximity is one of the Gestalt principles of visual perception, first described by German psychologists in the early 20th century. The principle states that objects placed close together are perceived as more related than objects placed farther apart. This is one of the most fundamental principles of visual organization and has been widely applied in interface design.