Nielsen Heuristics
Ten usability principles for judging whether an interface keeps people oriented, in control, and confident.
Visibility of System Status
Let people know what the system is doing, especially when an action takes time.
Match Between System and the Real World
Use words, controls, and patterns that make sense to the people using the product.
User Control and Freedom
Let people go back, cancel, or undo without losing their work.
Consistency and Standards
Use the same words and patterns for the same things, then follow conventions people already know.
Error Prevention
Prevent errors before they happen by removing risky choices, setting useful limits, and checking high-impact actions.
Recognition Rather Than Recall
Show people the information and choices they need instead of asking them to remember.
Flexibility and Efficiency of Use
Give people more than one way to work, with clear paths for beginners and faster paths for experienced users.
Aesthetic and Minimalist Design
Keep what helps people complete the task. Remove or defer anything that competes with it.
Help Users Recognize, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors
Write error messages in plain language, place them near the problem, and show people how to recover.
Help and Documentation
Make help easy to find, focused on the task, and available when people need it.