Heuristic Evaluation

Evaluate: $0

Focus: $1 (default: all)

Nielsen's 10 Heuristics

For each heuristic, audit the target code/UI and rate compliance:

1. Visibility of System Status

• Does the UI show loading states?
• Are progress indicators present for long operations?
• Does the user know what state they're in (active nav, form step)?

2. Match Between System and Real World

• Does the language match the user's mental model?
• Are icons intuitive or do they need labels?
• Is information organized in a natural, logical order?

3. User Control and Freedom

• Can users undo actions?
• Is there a clear "back" or "cancel" option?
• Can users exit flows without losing progress?

4. Consistency and Standards

• Do similar actions look and behave the same way?
• Do UI patterns follow platform conventions?
• Is terminology consistent across the app?

5. Error Prevention

• Are destructive actions confirmed?
• Do forms validate inline before submission?
• Are edge cases handled before the user hits them?

6. Recognition Rather Than Recall

• Is navigation visible, not hidden behind menus?
• Are recent items, saved searches, or suggestions available?
• Do form fields have helpful defaults or examples?

7. Flexibility and Efficiency of Use

• Are there shortcuts for power users?
• Can common tasks be completed in minimal steps?
• Does the UI support keyboard navigation?

8. Aesthetic and Minimalist Design

• Is there visual clutter that doesn't serve the user?
• Is every element on screen necessary?
• Is the information density appropriate for the context?

9. Help Users Recognize, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors

• Are error messages in plain language (not codes)?
• Do errors explain what went wrong and how to fix it?
• Are errors shown near the problem (not just at the top)?

10. Help and Documentation

• Is the UI self-explanatory, or does it need help text?
• Are tooltips or inline help available for complex features?
• Is there an onboarding flow for new users?

Output Format

## Heuristic Evaluation: <target>

### Summary
| Heuristic | Score (0-4) | Critical Issues |
|-----------|-------------|-----------------|
| 1. Visibility of System Status | 3 | loading states missing on 2 pages |
| 2. Match Real World | 4 | — |
| ... | ... | ... |

**Overall Score**: X/40

### Critical Issues (severity 3-4)
1. **H5 Error Prevention**: <file:line> — <issue + fix>

### Moderate Issues (severity 2)
1. **H3 User Control**: <issue + recommendation>

### Minor Issues (severity 0-1)
1. **H8 Minimalist Design**: <cosmetic suggestion>

Severity scale: 0 = not a problem, 1 = cosmetic, 2 = minor, 3 = major, 4 = catastrophic

Constraints

• Evaluate based on the code/UI, not screenshots
• Provide actionable fixes, not just problem descriptions
• Be honest about severity — not everything is critical
• Consider the user context (admin tool vs consumer app have different standards)