The document outlines 10 usability heuristics for user experience (UX) design: 1) visibility of system status, 2) matching real world expectations, 3) user control and freedom, 4) consistency and standards, 5) error prevention, 6) recognition over recall, 7) flexibility and efficiency of use, 8) aesthetic and minimalist design, 9) helping users recognize and recover from errors, and 10) help and documentation. Each heuristic is accompanied by a short description and example. The document also lists sources that inspired the heuristics and provides additional UX resources.

1. UX
Usability Heuristics
explained

2. UX
Usability Heuristics
1. Visibility of system status
“I know what is going on”
Ex. Progress bars, breadcrumbs, confirmation messages

3. UX
Usability Heuristics
2. Match between your site and the real world
“I know what you are talking about”
Ex. Speaking the user’s language and clear information

4. UX
Usability Heuristics
3. User control and freedom
“Opps let me out of here”
Ex. Go back, Undo, Remove from Cart, Close Window

5. UX
Usability Heuristics
4. Consistency and standards
“Follows platform conventions, seems familiar, makes sense”
Ex. Means that users do not spend their time learning how to use your
website but to focus in finding what they were looking for.

6. UX
Usability Heuristics
5. Error prevention
“Glad I didn't do that!”
Ex. Mandatory, in-field form validation, clear instructions during checkout,
“Are you sure?” messages, clear labels (i.e. “Checkout”)

7. UX
Usability Heuristics
6. Recognition rather than recall
“I know what I need to do here”
Ex. Relevant information is on the same page, so that a user does not
have to flick between pages or windows to find out what they wanted.

8. UX
Usability Heuristics
7. Flexibility and efficiency of use
“Allow me to do more or less”
Ex. Provide returning users with short cuts like, quick-links, saved
searches, items you recently looked at, save for later, related content

9. UX
Usability Heuristics
8. Aesthetic and minimalist design
“Looks good, works beautifully”
Ex. Reducing clutter, clear purpose, functionalities and call to actions.
Design should not obstruct the function or distract.

10. UX
Usability Heuristics
9. Help users recognise and recover from errors
“I know what went wrong, I can fix it”
Ex. Useful error messages (“Your password is incorrect, please ensure your CAPS LOCK key
is off”), Form validation highlighting the error field, related links (“Did you mean…)

11. UX
Usability Heuristics
10. Help and documentation
“Okay, I need help””
Ex. FAQs, “?” icons, advanced search, clear labels on form fields and sections, pop-up
help, online / live chat

12. UX
Inspired by
http://www.whatwasithinking.co.uk/2009/02/27/explaining-usability-heuristics-a-quick-guide/
http://www.slideshare.net/crafted/10-usability-heuristics-explained

13. UX
Resources
Psychological Usability Heuristics
https://uxmag.com/articles/psychological-usability-heuristics
Website Usability Checklist
https://keepwomen.com/static_pages/checklist_tool