Usability testing is a research method where real users are observed while performing specific tasks on a website, app, or software to see how easy and intuitive the product is to use.
How It Works
- Real Users: People from the target audience test the product instead of the designers or developers who built it.
- Realistic Tasks: Participants try to complete normal goals, like buying an item or resetting a password.
- Observation: A facilitator watches or software records how users navigate, where they get stuck, and what causes confusion
Main Types of Usability Testing
- Moderated vs. Unmoderated: A live researcher guides the session, or the user completes tasks independently through an online platform.
- Remote vs. In-Person: Tests happen online from participants' homes or in a controlled lab environment.
Why It Matters
- Finds Hidden Flaws: Catches points of friction that internal teams overlook because they know the product too well.
- Saves Money: Fixes design and navigation problems early in development before they become expensive to change.