What is the purpose of a wireframe in web design?

The purpose of a wireframe in web design primarily focuses on outlining the layout and structure of a website before any design elements, such as colors and images, are incorporated. A wireframe acts as a blueprint for the web page, allowing designers and stakeholders to visualize the arrangement of key elements, including navigation, content areas, and interactive features. By establishing this foundational layout, wireframes facilitate discussions and feedback in the early stages of development, ensuring that the design meets user needs and business goals before progressing to more detailed design phases.

The other options relate to aspects of web design but do not accurately represent the specific purpose of wireframes. Specifying a color palette involves aesthetic choices that come after the structural design is established. Final design prototypes are typically more developed and polished than wireframes, which serve as a preliminary guide. Integrating multimedia elements is also a subsequent step, as wireframes focus solely on layout rather than detailed content or functionality.