Zero State

Zero State refers to the interface state when there is no content available or no actions have been taken by the user, such as an empty inbox, an empty cart, or a new account with no data. A well-designed zero state provides helpful guidance, examples, or calls to action to engage users and encourage them to begin interacting with the system. It is a chance to offer users clear instructions on how to populate the interface or take their next steps.

Notion's zero state for a new workspace doesn't start completely empty — it pre-populates with a welcome page, a getting started guide, and a sample template database. This gives new users a mental model of what a useful Notion workspace looks like before they've added anything themselves, dramatically reducing the intimidation of the blank canvas.