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Also known as: user testing, UX testing, usability study

Usability Testing

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Definition

Usability Testing: Usability testing evaluates a product by observing real users attempting to complete tasks. Unlike surveys or analytics, usability testing reveals why users struggle—uncovering confusion, misunderstandings, and friction points. Even 5 users can identify most usability issues, making it accessible for startups.

Example Usage

“Usability testing revealed users couldn't find our export button—hidden in a menu. Moving it to the toolbar increased usage 400%.”

Common Misconceptions

Need lots of users to test. Five users typically find 85% of usability issues; test early and often with small groups.
Usability testing is expensive. Remote, unmoderated tests can be done quickly and cheaply with tools like Maze.
Only test finished products. Testing prototypes and wireframes catches issues before expensive development.

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