[Term Entry] Usability Testing

content/uiux/concepts/usability-testing/usability-testing.md

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+---
+Title: 'Usability Testing'
+Description: 'Usability Testing evaluates how effectively users complete tasks using a product or interface.'
+Subjects:
+  - 'Web Design'
+Tags:
+  - 'UX'
+  - 'User Research'
+  - 'Interaction Design'
+CatalogContent:
+  - 'intro-to-ui-ux'
+  - 'paths/front-end-engineer-career-path'
+---
+
+**Usability testing** is a research method used in UX to evaluate how easily users can accomplish tasks with a product, service, or interface. It provides direct insights into how real users interact with a design and where they encounter confusion, friction, or failure.
+
+Unlike surveys or focus groups, usability testing is task-based, users are given specific goals to complete while designers or researchers observe and collect feedback.
+
+## When and Why It’s Used
+
+Usability testing can be conducted at various points in the design lifecycle:
+
+- _Early stages_  
+  Run with wireframes or prototypes to validate layout, flow, and interaction logic before development.
+
+- _Post-launch_  
+  Identify usability issues in a live product and gather insights for future iterations or updates.
+
+- _Before handoff_  
+  Confirm that critical flows like onboarding, checkout, or settings are intuitive and error-free.
+
+- _Comparative testing_  
+  Compare two design versions (A/B testing) to determine which performs better based on completion rates or user satisfaction.
+
+## Key Elements of a Usability Test
+
+- **Defined tasks**  
+  Users are asked to complete tasks like “Find the return policy” or “Add an item to the cart.” These should be realistic and clear.
+
+- **Representative users**  
+  Participants should reflect the actual user base in terms of goals, experience, and accessibility needs.
+
+- **Observation and note-taking**  
+  Sessions are observed either in person or remotely. Researchers record behaviors, hesitation, and verbal feedback.
+
+- **Think-aloud protocol**  
+  Users are often encouraged to speak their thoughts while performing tasks to reveal mental models and confusion points.
+
+- **Success metrics**  
+  Outcomes like task completion rate, error count, and time on task are tracked alongside qualitative observations.
+
+> _Note: Usability testing focuses on the user's interaction with the interface — it is not a test of the user, but of the design._
+
+## Types of Usability Testing
+
+- **Moderated testing**  
+  A researcher is present (physically or virtually) to guide the session, ask follow-ups, and clarify tasks.
+
+- **Unmoderated testing**  
+  Users complete tasks independently, often through a recorded browser or app session.
+
+- **Remote testing**  
+  Sessions are conducted via screen share or testing platforms, allowing access to diverse participants.
+
+- **In-person testing**  
+  Often conducted in a lab or controlled space for direct observation and richer context.