What term refers to a group of people with similar needs within an application setting?

In the context of application design and development, the term "personas" refers to fictional representations of user types that share similar behaviors, needs, and goals within a specific application setting. Creating personas helps developers and designers understand and empathize with the target audience, facilitating more user-centered decision-making during the design process.

By defining personas, teams can channel their focus on specific user needs and tailor the application's features and interface to effectively address those needs. This practice ensures that the application not only meets functional requirements but also enhances user experience by considering the differing motivations and challenges of its users.

In contrast, while stakeholders are individuals or groups with an interest in the project (like sponsors, clients, or team members), and users simply denote anyone who interacts with the application, personas specifically delve deeper into behavior and requirements, making them essential for targeted user experience strategies. Administrators, on the other hand, have specific roles related to managing the application and its environment rather than representing user needs.