Heuristic Evaluation
A method where experts review an interface against a set of usability principles, like Nielsen’s heuristics, to spot problems without involving users.
Why it matters
It is the fastest honest audit available: no recruiting, no lab, just experts walking the interface against principles that have not changed in thirty years. It will not tell you what users feel — but it clears the obvious problems out cheaply, so user testing can find the interesting ones.
The numbers
- 10 heuristics — Nielsen’s classic set
- 3-5 evaluators — together they catch most issues; one alone finds about a third
Related terms
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