What does the term "dead click" refer to in usability analytics?

The term "dead click" refers to an action that does not register any response from the application. This typically occurs when a user interacts with an interface element, expecting a reaction—such as navigating to a new page, displaying additional information, or initiating a process—but nothing happens in response to their action.

Dead clicks are significant in usability analytics because they indicate potential areas of confusion or frustration within an application’s interface. When users experience dead clicks, it can lead to negative perceptions of the usability of the application and could affect overall user satisfaction and engagement. By analyzing these interactions, developers and designers can identify problematic elements and improve the user experience, ensuring that the interface behaves as users expect.

Other potential options involve actions that either result in a successful goal, like a purchase or opening a new tab, or are subsequent actions that may not indicate usability issues. However, dead clicks specifically highlight a lack of feedback or functionality, which is central to understanding user frustrations in an application's design.