SUMMARY: A stale affordance is an old interface cue that keeps inviting behavior after the site strategy has changed.
A site can change its policy and still leave old invitations behind. A link points to a route that no longer matters. A button suggests an action without context. A label describes a page from an earlier version of the project. A form is technically correct but socially confusing.
Stale affordances create friction because the interface keeps speaking in the past tense.
Common Signals
Outdated labels: navigation or headings that no longer match page intent.
Unclear actions: buttons that ask for commitment without explaining the destination.
Old priorities: routes that remain prominent after the operating cadence has moved elsewhere.
Weak recovery cues: login, register, or reset paths that feel detached from the rest of the site.
Countermeasure
Pair stale affordance review with route audits. Route audits show where visitors travel. Affordance review checks what the interface is asking them to do along the way.
Operator Rule
If an interface cue invites action, make sure the invitation still belongs.
Field assessment: old cues become quiet instructions unless they are retired.