What is the purpose of a wireframe in web design?

The purpose of a wireframe in web design is to outline the structure and layout of a web page before the actual design and coding take place. Wireframes serve as a visual guide that represents the skeletal framework of a website. By focusing on the arrangement and placement of elements such as navigation, content sections, and interactive features, wireframes help designers and stakeholders visualize the functionality and structure without the distraction of design elements like colors, fonts, or images.

Creating wireframes allows for early identification of required elements, content prioritization, and user experience considerations, facilitating discussions and revisions before proceeding to high-fidelity prototypes or actual implementation. This step is vital in the design process as it ensures that the team has a clear understanding of the site's structure and can make adjustments efficiently.

Other options focus on aspects that wireframes are not intended for. For instance, high-fidelity prototypes involve detailed design and interactivity, while gathering user feedback pertains to user testing and validation practices. Finalizing a website's color scheme is part of the visual design phase, which occurs after wireframes have established the basic structure.