A decision before development
Prototype or MVP?
A prototype tests the flow and whether people understand the solution; it need not handle real data safely. An MVP is the smallest product real users can depend on and that can be operated, measured and supported.
A prototype is a question
A prototype should reveal whether the right problem is being solved in the right way. It may be clickable, use test data and deliberately omit authentication, payments or administration.
Its value is not code volume. Its value is a cheaper decision: continue, change direction or stop.
An MVP is a commitment to users
Once a product stores real accounts, personal data or money, appearance is not enough. It needs permissions, failure states, backups, monitoring, support and safe deployment.
MVP does not mean low quality. It means the smallest scope that can safely deliver a specific promise.
When not to build either
If you cannot yet say who has the problem and why it matters, begin with interviews and a plain description of the current process. Software is an expensive way to discover whether a problem exists.
A prototype is useful when behaviour, screen flow or a technically uncertain part needs testing.
A simple decision rule
Need to explain the idea or test the core flow? Build a prototype. Need real users to work with real data? Build an MVP. Still testing whether the problem matters? Do not code yet.
Moving from prototype to MVP is a decision, not an automatic conversion. Keep what was validated and rebuild what production requires.
Frequently asked questions
Is prototype work thrown away?
No, provided its learning goal is explicit. Some code may survive, but validated decisions and a clearer brief are the primary output.
Can a prototype be public?
It can support limited testing if it avoids sensitive data and users know it is experimental. Public production use needs further safeguards.
How long does a prototype take?
A simple prototype covering one critical journey can take about a week. More journeys and technical unknowns increase the duration.