Usability Testing

What is a Usability Test?

• Is to be performed to ensure if the users can use the product with ease and it is ready to deliver. The Tester mimics the user and tries to find flaws in usability of product. [1]
• The difference between Usability and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) testing is that UAT testing is performed by a Client. The Client tests the software product to ensure it meets written requirements and to verify it is functioning as expected.

Function of Usability Tests:

• Determines if the software is user friendly:
  • Does it do what the user is used to it doing without even thinking about it
  • Determines what sorts of cues the user is looking out for
  • Determines what the user views as the ‘correct’ process to complete a task
• Which is a little different from UAT testing which tests system functionality from an end user perspective. Remember in this case most likely the one testing is the Client who has an idea of how they would like the software to behave which is not necessarily how the end user will interact with the software.
• Sometimes the client will do Usability testing as part of their UAT testing but most likely they will not and they will only find out after the product or component has been built if the user likes it or not or has issue with it or not.

Test Results:

• The development team may or may not conduct a Usability test before the product goes to Production.
• Based on testing feedback the development team may or may not make suggested changes before the product goes to Production.

Reference(s):

• [1] https://www.h2kinfosys.com/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-usability-test-and-user-acceptance-test/
• TestingAcronyms
• CommonTestingTerms