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10 Usability Heuristics for User Interface Design

Summary: Jakob Nielsen's 10 general principles for interaction design. They are
called "heuristics" because they are broad rules of thumb and not specific
usability guidelines.

By Jakob Nielsen on Apr. 24, 1994; Updated Nov. 15, 2020

Topics: Heuristic Evaluation, Human Computer Interaction, Web Usability
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Download a free poster of Jakob’s 10 Usability Heuristics at the bottom of this

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#1: Visibility of system status

The design should always keep users informed about what is going on, through
appropriate feedback within a reasonable amount of time.

When users know the current system status, they learn the outcome of their prior
interactions and determine next steps. Predictable interactions create trust in the
product as well as the brand.

Usability Heuristic #1: Man beside “You Are Here” indicators on a mall maps to show
him where he currently is.
Example of Usability Heuristic #1:
“You Are Here” indicators on mall maps have to show people where they currently
are, to help them understand where to go next.
Tips

Communicate clearly to users what the system’s state is — no action with

consequences to users should be taken without informing them.
Present feedback to the user as quickly as possible (ideally, immediately).
Build trust through open and continuous communication.
Learn more

Full article: Visibility of System Status

3-minute video about the Visibility Heuristic
#2: Match between system and the real world
The design should speak the users' language. Use words, phrases, and concepts
familiar to the user, rather than internal jargon. Follow real-world conventions,
making information appear in a natural and logical order.

The way you should design depends very much on your specific users. Terms,
concepts, icons, and images that seem perfectly clear to you and your colleagues
may be unfamiliar or confusing to your users.

When a design’s controls follow real-world conventions and correspond to desired

outcomes (called natural mapping), it’s easier for users to learn and remember how
the interface works. This helps to build an experience that feels intuitive.

Usability Heuristic #2: A stovetop that has controls that match the layout of the
heating elements.
Example of Usability Heuristic #2:
When stovetop controls match the layout of heating elements, users can quickly
understand which control maps to which heating element.
Tips
Ensure users can understand meaning without having to go look up a word’s
definition.
Never assume your understanding of words or concepts will match those of your
users.
User research will help you uncover your users' familiar terminology, as well as
their mental models around important concepts.
Learn more

Full article: Match Between the System and the Real World
2-minute video: Match Between the System and the Real World
#3: User control and freedom
Users often perform actions by mistake. They need a clearly marked "emergency exit"
to leave the unwanted action without having to go through an extended process.

When it's easy for people to back out of a process or undo an action, it fosters a
sense of freedom and confidence. Exits allow users to remain in control of the
system and avoid getting stuck and feeling frustrated.

Usability Heuristic #3: A door with a light-up emergency exit above it.
Example of Usability Heuristic #3:
Digital spaces need quick “emergency exits,” just like physical spaces do.
Tips

Support Undo and Redo.

Show a clear way to exit the current interaction, like a Cancel button.
Make sure the exit is clearly labeled and discoverable.
Learn more

Full article: User Control and Freedom

2-minute video: User Control and Freedom
#4: Consistency and standards
Users should not have to wonder whether different words, situations, or actions
mean the same thing. Follow platform and industry conventions.

Jakob's Law states that people spend most of their time using digital products
other than yours. Users’ experiences with those other products set their
expectations. Failing to maintain consistency may increase the users'cognitive load
by forcing them to learn something new.

Usability Heuristic #4: A hotel check-in counter at that is always located at the
front of a hotel.
Example of Usability Heuristic #4:
Check-in counters are usually located at the front of hotels. This consistency
meets customers’ expectations.
Tips

Improve learnability by maintaining both types of consistency: internal and

external.
Maintain consistency within a single product or a family of products (internal
consistency).
Follow established industry conventions (external consistency).
Learn more

Full article: Consistency and Standards

3-minute video: Consistency and Standards
#5: Error prevention
Good error messages are important, but the best designs carefully prevent problems
from occurring in the first place. Either eliminate error-prone conditions, or
check for them and present users with a confirmation option before they commit to
the action.

There are two types of errors: slips and mistakes. Slips are unconscious errors
caused by inattention. Mistakes are conscious errors based on a mismatch between
the user’s mental model and the design.

Usability Heuristic #5: A highway that has guard rails so a driver can't drive off
the side.
Example of Usability Heuristic #5:
Guard rails on curvy mountain roads prevent drivers from falling off cliffs.
Tips

Prioritize your effort: Prevent high-cost errors first, then little frustrations.
Avoid slips by providing helpful constraints and good defaults.
Prevent mistakes by removing memory burdens, supporting undo, and warning your
users.
Learn more

Full article: Preventing User Errors

3-minute video: Error Prevention
#6: Recognition rather than recall
Minimize the user's memory load by making elements, actions, and options visible.
The user should not have to remember information from one part of the interface to
another. Information required to use the design (e.g. field labels or menu items)
should be visible or easily retrievable when needed.

Humans have limited short-term memories. Interfaces that promote recognition reduce
the amount of cognitive effort required from users.

Usability Heuristic #6: A castle that represents Lisbon. It is easier for people to
hear the capital and place it's country, rather than name a capital outright.
Example of Usability Heuristic #6:
It’s easier for most people to recognize the capitals of countries, instead of
having to remember them. People are more likely to correctly answer the question Is
Lisbon the capital of Portugal? rather than What’s the capital of Portugal?
Tips

Let people recognize information in the interface, rather than having to remember
(“recall”) it.
Offer help in context, instead of giving users a long tutorial to memorize.
Reduce the information that users have to remember.
Learn more

Full article: Recognition vs. Recall in UX

3-minute video: Recognition vs. Recall
#7: Flexibility and efficiency of use
Shortcuts — hidden from novice users — may speed up the interaction for the expert
user such that the design can cater to both inexperienced and experienced users.
Allow users to tailor frequent actions.

Flexible processes can be carried out in different ways, so that people can pick
whichever method works for them.

Usability Heuristic #7: A picture of a map with 2 routes. The first is a regular
route, the second is a shortcut.
Example of Usability Heuristic #7:
Regular routes are listed on maps, but locals with more knowledge of the area can
take shortcuts.
Tips
Provide accelerators like keyboard shortcuts and touch gestures.
Provide personalization by tailoring content and functionality for individual
users.
Allow for customization, so users can make selections about how they want the
product to work.
Learn more

Full article: Flexibility and Efficiency of Use: The 7th Usability Heuristic
Explained
3-minute video: Flexibility and Efficiency of Use
#8: Aesthetic and minimalist design
Interfaces should not contain information which is irrelevant or rarely needed.
Every extra unit of information in an interface competes with the relevant units of
information and diminishes their relative visibility.

This heuristic doesn't mean you have to use a flat design — it's about making sure
you're keeping the content and visual design focused on the essentials. Ensure that
the visual elements of the interface support the user's primary goals.

Usability Heuristic #8: Two teapots side by side. One basic and straightforward,
the other ornate with a fancy handle and curvy spout.
Example of Usability Heuristic #8:
An ornate teapot may have excessive decorative elements that can interfere with
usability, like an uncomfortable handle or hard to wash nozzle.
Tips

Keep the content and visual design of UI focus on the essentials.

Don't let unnecessary elements distract users from the information they really
need.
Prioritize the content and features to support primary goals.
Learn more

3-minute video: Aesthetic and Minimalist Design

#9: Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors
Error messages should be expressed in plain language (no error codes), precisely
indicate the problem, and constructively suggest a solution.

These error messages should also be presented with visual treatments that will help
users notice and recognize them.

Usability Heuristic #9: A picture of a road with a wrong way sign to the right that
would warn drivers not to enter.
Example of Usability Heuristic #9:
Wrong way signs on the road remind drivers that they are heading in the wrong
direction and ask them to stop.
Tips

Use traditional error message visuals, like bold, red text.

Tell users what went wrong in language they will understand — avoid technical
jargon.
Offer users a solution, like a shortcut that can solve the error immediately.
Learn more

2-minute video: Helping Users Overcome Errors

#10: Help and documentation
It’s best if the system doesn’t need any additional explanation. However, it may be
necessary to provide documentation to help users understand how to complete their
tasks.
Help and documentation content should be easy to search and focused on the user's
task. Keep it concise, and list concrete steps that need to be carried out.

Example of Usability Heuristic #10:

Information kiosks at airports are easily recognizable and solve customers’
problems in context and immediately.
Tips

Ensure that the help documentation is easy to search.

Whenever possible, present the documentation in context right at the moment that
the user requires it.
List concrete steps to be carried out.
Learn more

Full article: Help and Documentation: The 10th Usability Heuristic

3-minute video: Help and Documentation
Note from Jakob
I originally developed the heuristics for heuristic evaluation in collaboration
with Rolf Molich in 1990 [Molich and Nielsen 1990; Nielsen and Molich 1990]. Four
years later, I refined the heuristics based on a factor analysis of 249 usability
problems [Nielsen 1994a] to derive a set of heuristics with maximum explanatory
power, resulting in this revised set of heuristics [Nielsen 1994b].

In 2020, we updated this article, adding more explanation, examples, and related
links. While we slightly refined the language of the definitions, the 10 heuristics
themselves have remained relevant and unchanged since 1994. When something has
remained true for 26 years, it will likely apply to future generations of user
interfaces as well.

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