Usability
Also called: usability, user-friendliness or usability
The field of usability is concerned with the usability of things made. In an ideal world, during the development of products, machines, tools, processes and websites, the intended users are given due consideration. The more accessible and user-friendly a product is, the more people will easily interact with it.
When a great deal of attention has clearly been paid to usability, we refer to it as "user-friendly.
Usability in product design
Usability in product development focuses not on the purpose of a product, machine or tool, but on the user of the final product.
Will the user recognize the product and easily determine how it works? Can the product be used efficiently? Does a product meet users' expectations, will it make them happy? Are there specific target groups to consider, such as left-handed or low literacy? How much power is needed to use a product?
Often in usability, developers assume a number of personas. These are imaginary characters, each with distinct characteristics that collectively represent the intended audience. The usability of a product can then be tested against each of these personas.
Website usability
Usability is an important issue in the development of graphical user interfaces, such as Internet sites and software applications. These often house a lot of information and functions but at the same time it is expected that (almost) everyone should be able to work with them. So it is important that websites, software and their interfaces are designed to be user-friendly.
The usability of a Web site is partly in clear navigation and operation. The naming should be logical and the design consistent and in line with what is common on other websites. The underlying technology and the device or browser used should have no influence on this.
Users should be able to find or do what they want with as few actions as possible, without having to search for it endlessly. When filling out forms, users should be helped by providing clear instructions, even when invalid or incomplete data is entered. But above all, it must be clear how the creator intended the website to be (intuitive). If this is not the case and the visitor becomes distracted and irritated, there is friction.
