Define visual hierarchy in the context of web design.

Visual hierarchy in web design is fundamentally about the arrangement of elements on a page to guide the viewer's attention effectively. This concept is crucial because it determines how users perceive and interact with content. By strategically placing elements such as images, text, and buttons in a certain order or format, designers can lead users through the content in a way that emphasizes the most important information first. This can involve using size, color, contrast, and spatial relationships to create a sense of importance among different elements.

In this context, the arrangement should help direct users toward key messages, calls to action, or navigational elements, ensuring a smoother, more intuitive user experience. By emphasizing certain elements over others, designers can manage the viewer's focus, making it easier for them to understand the content and make decisions.

In contrast, while color contrast can play a role in creating visual hierarchy, it is only one aspect of the broader principle. The amount of text used can also be significant, but it's more about clarity and readability than the hierarchy itself. Page load speed, while crucial for overall usability and experience, does not directly relate to the organization of content. Therefore, the correct answer reflects the essence of how visual hierarchy functions in directing user engagement and comprehension on a web page