Sounds on The Web

Sound is the forgotten sense in web design. The auditory cortex processes sound in ~25ms—nearly 10x faster than visual processing. A button that clicks feels faster than one that doesn't, even when visual feedback is identical.

When to Apply

Reference these guidelines when:

• Adding audio feedback to interactions
• Designing confirmation or error states
• Building notification systems
• Creating immersive or game-like experiences
• Reviewing audio UX for appropriateness

Core Principles