Flexibility and Efficiency of Use
Give people more than one way to work, with clear paths for beginners and faster paths for experienced users.
The same task can have a guided route and a faster route.
A first-time user opens a menu and follows the labels. A frequent user presses a keyboard shortcut. Both complete the same task. One path helps people learn, while the other makes repeated work quicker.
Origin
Jakob Nielsen included Flexibility and Efficiency of Use in his 1994 heuristics. Page Laubheimer's 2020 explanation describes two parts: offering useful ways to complete a task and adding accelerators for repeated work.
Offer more than one useful way to complete frequent tasks. Avoid duplicating controls when the extra path does not add real speed, control, or flexibility.
Keep the main route visible and easy to learn. A keyboard shortcut or gesture should improve the experience, not become the only way to reach an important action.
Make shortcuts discoverable without interrupting the task. Show the key beside a menu command or inside a tooltip so repeated exposure can teach it naturally.
Let people save settings or customize repeated workflows when it helps. Do not depend on customization to fix a weak default experience.
Digital systems
Photoshop Tool Shortcuts
Photoshop shows a keyboard shortcut when someone hovers over a toolbar item. Beginners can click the tool as usual. Experienced users can learn the faster key without a separate lesson.
Physical signals
The Local Shortcut
A marked route helps a visitor reach a destination. Someone who knows the area may take a shorter path. Both routes work, but local knowledge gives the experienced traveler a faster option.
A guided flow can feel slow after repeated use. A shortcut-only interface can be hard to learn. Either extreme ignores how people's needs change with experience.
Make the main path clear, then add keyboard shortcuts, gestures, saved settings, or automation for repeated work. Let people use the level of speed and control that fits them.