Semiotics
Semiotics is the study of signs, symbols, and meaning-making processes in communication and culture. It examines how signs (like words, images, or gestures) convey meaning through systems of interpretation, often analyzing the relationships between signs, their referents, and users. In computing, it's applied to understand how users interpret interfaces, data visualizations, and digital artifacts.
Developers should learn semiotics to design more intuitive user interfaces, improve data visualization clarity, and enhance communication in software systems, especially in UX/UI design, accessibility, and cross-cultural applications. It's valuable for creating systems where meaning must be accurately conveyed, such as in educational software, internationalization, or AI interpretability.