Usability Heuristics - UX Words to Know

What are Heuristics in UX?

Do you know how sometimes when you’re downloading a file, you’ll see a little progress bar telling you how much longer you're going to be waiting? Ever think about why that was there?

Well, let me introduce you to a term that I wish I knew earlier: “heuristics”. It sounds complicated, but in UX design , heuristics are just guidelines that help make an app or a website easier and more intuitive to use.

The idea of usability heuristics comes from Jakob Nielsen and Rolf Molich, who gave UX design its ten commandments - ten heuristics that ensure a seamless, user-friendly experience.

Example

The “progress bar” I mentioned earlier? That's an example of one of Nielsen's heuristics: “visibility of system status”. It means the system should always keep users in the loop about what's going on, just like that handy progress bar monitoring your file download.

Another example is a heuristic called "match between system and the real world." Think of Kindle's digital library feature. It's designed to look and feel like a real bookshelf or library, making it super easy to find and access your favorite books.

Overall, these principles help designers create experiences that feel natural and intuitive.