What is usability?
What is it?
Web 'usability' refers to how easy it is to use a website. It is concerned with ensuring the design, layout and structure of a site allow a user to complete their task with ease, efficiency and confidence.
Is it the same as accessibility?
Yes and no. There are similarities, and the two often go together, but it is possible for a site to be accessible but not usable, and vice-versa. Accessibility specifically focuses on physical access for the disabled, but usability is something that is relevant to everyone.
It's one of those things which isn't obvious if it's done well. If it's not there, you'll get frustrated, confused, even annoyed, and it's very easy to leave a website and find a better one. It seems an obvious thing to include, but you probably know from experience it doesn't always happen!
So how is it done?
Unlike accessibility, there are no specific measurements for usability, and no-one controls how it should be achieved. It comes down to designer experience, following best-practice guidelines, and lots of testing!
It's important to remember that people have different ways of doing things. Sites should therefore be tested by different people, to ensure that they can all accomplish a given task such as finding information or placing an order.
Testing might reveal that someone wanting to place an order couldn't find a link to do so. A solution might be to move the link or change its colour to make it more prominent.
How does your site rate?
All Clarified websites follow latest guidelines, and you can make a judgement on your own site when you first use it. For existing non-Clarified sites, we can carry out a usability review and arrange further testing if required to identify potential improvements. We can then implement these if you wish.
Any more questions?
If you're still unsure about usability or are interested in how we can help, please do contact us and we can answer any questions you have.