Jakob Nielsen's 10 Usability Heuristics

Visibility of System Status

The system should always keep users informed about what's happening through timely and appropriate feedback.

Match Between the System and the Real World

The design should speak the users' language, following real-world conventions so information appears in a natural and logical order.

User Control and Freedom

Users need clearly marked ways to exit or undo actions so they don't feel trapped or frustrated.

Consistency and Standards

The interface should use consistent words, situations, and actions, adhering to both internal and industry conventions so users don't have to question what means what.

Error Prevention

The best designs stop errors from occurring by eliminating error-prone conditions or offering confirmation options instead of relying solely on error messages.

Recognition Rather than Recall

It minimizes memory load by making options and information visible or easily retrievable, so users don't need to recall information.

Flexibility and Efficiency of Use

The design should cater to both novices and experts—e.g., by providing shortcuts or customization so users can tailor frequent actions.

Aesthetic and Minimalist Design

Interfaces should exclude irrelevant information—every added element competes for attention; focus on content and design that supports primary goals.

Help Users Recognize, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors

Error messages should use plain language, clearly explain the problem, and offer constructive solutions, with visuals to help users notice them.

Help and Documentation

While ideally unnecessary, when help is needed it should be easy to search, task-focused, concise, and contextually provided with clear steps.