Heuristic Evaluation
Heuristic evaluation is a usability inspection method in which experts review an interface against a set of established design principles, called heuristics, to find likely usability problems.
The method was developed by Jakob Nielsen and Rolf Molich, and Nielsen's ten usability heuristics are still the most widely used set. They include visibility of system status, consistency and standards, error prevention, and recognition rather than recall. Evaluators usually review the interface separately, note each problem and the principle it breaks, rate its severity, and then combine their findings. Using several evaluators matters, because each one tends to find different problems.
Heuristic evaluation differs from usability testing in who does the evaluating. Usability testing observes real users as they attempt tasks, so it shows what actually happens. Heuristic evaluation relies on expert judgment and needs no participants, which makes it faster and cheaper. The tradeoff is that it can miss problems only real users reveal and flag issues that don't bother them in practice. The two methods work well together, with the evaluation clearing obvious problems before testing begins.
How it works
Choose heuristics. Pick a set of principles, often Nielsen's ten.
Define scope. Decide which screens, flows, or tasks to review.
Review separately. Each evaluator inspects the interface and records issues.
Rate severity. Rank each problem by how much it would affect users.
Combine and fix. Merge the findings into a prioritized list of changes.
