Prototype:

A prototype is a partially developed product that helps the developers as well as

the customer to examine some aspect of the product and to ensure that the
requirements are consistent , feasible and complete.
Software user interface is often build and tested as a prototype so that the user
may know how the software will look like.

Prototyping Model:
Prototyping model allows to all or parts of system to be quickly developed to help
understand and clarify issues. It helps to reduce risk and uncertainity in
development.
It also allows repeated investigation of requirements and design.

Main point:
It works in scenario based environment where project requirements are not known.
It is an iterative model.