Questions tagged [usability]
The extent to which a product can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction in a specified context of use.
312
questions
265
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Save icon, is the floppy disk icon dead?
This Twitter post sparked me to ask the question:
totally! RT @damienguard: Dear UI
designers everywhere. Stop using
floppy disk icons for save. Too many
people have no idea what it is now.
...
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67
votes
5
answers
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What is the optimum button size of touch screen applications?
There was a not so recent blog post about the ideal button size of touch screen control sizes (sorry there is no link, the website is now a spam trap) that was based on the study form the MIT touch ...
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95
votes
13
answers
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Deletion: Confirm or Undo? Which is the better option and why?
Which one is the better option and why?
Delete with Confirmation [The action cannot be undone]
or
Delete with one click [And provide option to Undo]
- 1,232
191
votes
13
answers
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Language of language names in the language selector?
Imagine a site that's available in multiple languages. The language is detected automatically by looking at the IP or the browser header. But that's not bulletproof, so a few users might end up on a ...
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35
votes
3
answers
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Modals on top of modals
Using bootstrap modals, I keep running into the issue of having an info modal with content inside of it, but there's a need to have a "confirm your decision" modal/popup on top of the initial modal.
...
- 453
35
votes
7
answers
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Opening website external links in new window -- published usability tests
In usability discussions about opening website external links in new windows, with regard to the argument of "keeping users on the site" there are occasionally references to usability studies which ...
- 451
97
votes
2
answers
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Why is Google using a (new) 2 step Gmail sign in process?
I am not asking about the two factor authentication process where the user needs to enter both a password and a one-time-password.
Gmail recently (I don't know from when exactly) changed their login ...
- 1,186
23
votes
9
answers
6k
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Responsive web design Vs Separate website for Mobile
Responsive Web design is buzzword these days. which means to create a same website and optimized for all devices.
There are also some website which convert the desktop websites into Mobile website
...
- 4,872
17
votes
5
answers
2k
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Would it be bad design (and unsafe) to put password guidelines next to a login box?
Different websites have different password requirements
Some are content with a combination of just lower case words
Some require a combination of lower case and upper case words
Some require ...
- 43.8k
47
votes
13
answers
5k
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Can ugly be good UX?
It's heresy I know, but look at DrudgeReport.com. It's raw, hand written HTML, it's plain, boring typography, it's something any UX or Graphic designer would scoff at if you handed it across their ...
- 40.8k
33
votes
5
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Any Research on User Experience Perceptions of Native Apps vs Web or Hybrid Apps
My organization is looking at developing mobile applications, we have a wealth of web development resources. There are many factors to consider in making the decision of how to develop this ...
- 2,033
24
votes
5
answers
5k
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email field or username for logging in an application?
What is the best solution for an app : Email or username field?
I like email because:
it's unique
user will easily remember
it's personal (which can be a disadvantage sometimes; Multiple users on ...
- 742
11
votes
3
answers
6k
views
How to design usable web site terms & conditions?
What are some guidelines and examples for designing usable legal terms for web sites? I know that most users don't read it, but are there innovative ways to improve readability and presentation of ...
- 257
132
votes
10
answers
9k
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Is Markdown Friendly Enough for Non-Technical Users?
The Problem
I love using Markdown to write questions, answers, posts, comments, etc. That being said, I am a very technical, detail-oriented, programmer type. However, I am working on a CMS of sorts ...
- 1,421
71
votes
9
answers
41k
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Dropdown vs radio button
User have to choose type of food (from 3 or 4 choices) in our application. Default selection is used in 60 - 70% of cases. What will be better: dropdown or radio buttons?
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54
votes
4
answers
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Character limits on textarea fields - pros and cons and best practices?
Some of our form fields have character limits. We're debating whether we should reflect the current size of data entry, or to simply hard-limit and inhibit data entry beyond that size.
In HTML, ...
- 9,271
73
votes
6
answers
21k
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Infinite scroll vs Pagination in E-commerce websites
Infinite scroll has been around for a while now, however I have not seen infinite scroll being implemented on any successful or well known e-commerce sites.
Does anyone know of any e-commerce sites ...
- 3,532
30
votes
4
answers
4k
views
What's the rationale behind Google's "no save" approach?
Before anything, this is something I'm seeing on several sites, not only Google, but I think it started with Google, and it's obviously the most known case. There are several UX aspects quite arguable ...
- 37.3k
16
votes
10
answers
1k
views
Is UX the same as Usability?
The two terms have seemingly become synonymous, but is "user experience" really the same thing as "usability?"
It would seem that some sites, apps or products provide the user with an experience ...
- 541
102
votes
7
answers
18k
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Star vs Heart icon to represent save as a favourite
I am working on a mobile app that involves the user saving a favourite location. I wanted to use an icon to represent that feature, but I'm not sure which one is better – a star or a heart icon.
Some ...
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54
votes
9
answers
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Do non-technical/non-web savvy users understand the concept of tags?
Here at Stack Exchange we're currently wrestling with weaknesses in our tags system. As we open up new verticals – some of which include very non-technical users like cooking – we suspect that the ...
- 2,315
45
votes
6
answers
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What is a Modal Dialog Window?
What exactly is a modal dialog window and when should you use it? Are there certain cases where you should refrain from using one?
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36
votes
6
answers
43k
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Mobile website menu. Should hamburger menu be on left or the right?
Quite a while ago we decided to move our hamburger menu (I know they are evil but we got stupid amount of subcategories) to the right. Reasoning behind that was based on accessibility and in indoors ...
- 525
26
votes
4
answers
9k
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Building logical criteria (with AND , OR, etc)
I am looking for inspiration on this. We have a Dot.Net web application, where we are building pretty complicated criteria. It works, but I would like to change this, re-shape this, possibly from the ...
- 363
25
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Text Field Validation vs Prevention
I've been having a debate (mostly with myself) over the best approach to deal with invalid input in text fields -- validation versus prevention.
Taking a numeric text field as an example, is it ...
- 844
20
votes
6
answers
7k
views
What is the ROI of UI or UX design?
I was trying to find out if there have been studies on how much a bad UI or UX design affects sales on websites? I couldn't really find anything in my searches.
Also, does anyone know about any ...
user9533
17
votes
4
answers
18k
views
Press-and-hold or Long-Press Gestures: Unintuitive?
Often, I find people struggle with the usage of press-and-hold gestures on mobile/web platforms. The mere thought of having a user press on a defined object and hold for an arbitrary amount of time ...
- 530
13
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Are Mailing list popups bad usability
I had a client request that they wanted a mailing list popup like the example given below where the popup is presented to the user as soon as they land on the site
I am a little concerned about the ...
- 43.8k
12
votes
3
answers
8k
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Behavior of the Enter button in a form
What is a better experience for a user if they press enter when using a form?
Should it submit the form or move to the next field?
- 177
12
votes
3
answers
583
views
What are the best practices to design user interfaces that are going to be used under direct sunlight?
I'm designing an application that will be mostly used under direct sunlight, and I would like to know if there are some recommendations or best practices to improve usability under that conditions.
...
- 2,352
8
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there any difference in element minimal sizes on 10 and 24 inch touch screens?
I am developing an application which is supposed to be used on a 24" touch monitor.
There are lots of guides on physical sizes of a touch screen UI elements. All of them are saying that every button/...
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votes
11
answers
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Should users be allowed to use any special character they want when creating a password?
I came across a number of login configuration settings where there is a list of allowable special characters and was wondering:
Does this limitation cater for a specific security or usability need?
...
- 6,996
40
votes
8
answers
48k
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Hamburger menu icons - should they be on the left or right?
Hamburger menus (the three small horizontal bars: the new menu icon). Should they be on the right or left?
I'm only thinking of mobile and tablet applications.
The pattern I see the most is on the ...
- 1,611
38
votes
11
answers
7k
views
Good reasons to use bad UI
When should we make a conscious decision to retain poor UI, even if temporarily? Not because of budget or time constraints but because of what I call the QWERTY paradox.
In short, the QWERTY paradox ...
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30
votes
13
answers
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Is high contrast mode really useful?
In most operating systems and on some websites there is a high contrast mode, intended for use by visually impaired people. I have doubts, however, whether using such mode makes any sense - from what ...
- 479
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votes
2
answers
1k
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Should I follow the Android guideline or keep my app's own style when porting it from iOS?
My new project is to port an iOS app to Android platform. Before get started, I'm quite confused on whether I should follow google's guideline since some big titles on Android platform still keep the ...
- 351
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votes
3
answers
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Is the usage of text embedded in an image a bad practice, for very controlled uses?
What are your thoughts on writing your text in images?
I'm not saying throughout the whole website... But in certain key locations like image carousels. And I'm not talking about the special cases ...
- 1,611
23
votes
7
answers
5k
views
Passcode generation guidelines?
Is there any kind of guidelines on passcode generation with regards to UX?
In particular I just ran into a site that used auto-generated codes but the codes it made were impossible to tell if a letter ...
- 1,071
20
votes
5
answers
4k
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Menu with dropdown, root element clickable?
I have two options for a dropdown but I'm not sure which one is the best from an usability standpoint. In option (A) there is a explicit "Our services" link which goes to a page with general ...
- 303
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votes
4
answers
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What is a good color combination, visibility for outside use
I am designing the layout for a touchscreen for outside use, What are some good color combination to use that will be visible under the sun light for outside use? Maybe bright neon colors?
- 173
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votes
4
answers
14k
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Optimum number of choices for menus/navigation
Anyone know any usability or cognitive psychology research done on the optimum number of choices for menus/navigation?
I need some evidence to argue a case against a top level category menu of ...
- 161
13
votes
3
answers
4k
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What is better than top-posting and bottom-posting?
Chat programs usually put the most recent information or message below others (bottom posting). Forums and feeds put the most recent information above others (top posting). Is any one better than the ...
- 293
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votes
6
answers
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best image to indicate swipe left right
What is the most appropriate image to indicate to users to swipe left or right?
i am using http://cubiq.org/swipeview but i feel like it needs a swipe indicator in the background somewhere.
Edit: for ...
- 327
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3
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Is there any research or data on horizontal vs. vertical navigational menus?
I've seen many sites using both horizontal (top) navigation, vertical (left) navigation, and both across web sites for a long time. My understanding is that they're both conventions, but I would ...
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10
votes
3
answers
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Mixing rounded corners and square corners
The question of the usability of rounded corners versus square corners has already be answered here. My question revolves more about the consequence of having them intermingled. I've heard some ...
10
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Whats is the best UI interface for permission?
I would like to know what is the best user interface to represent Multi-group inheritance permission.
I am not sure the treeview is the best way to show permission. What should be the best UI ?
...
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votes
3
answers
2k
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UX responsibilities
Is there a number of responsibilities that fall under UX (for example, graphic design, usability etc), or is UX a sub responsibility of design?
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votes
2
answers
2k
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Toggle Switch with Delayed State Change
As seen in the very popular answer:"Should a toggle button show its current state or the state to which it will change?", we have very good guidelines for implementing toggle buttons.
Unfortunately, ...
- 673
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votes
3
answers
4k
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Cards View Vs Tabular View
I am in the process of redesigning an interface with a lot of Tabular data that is previously simply used as tables that look like the 19th century. I was a bit confused whether to switch it to a Card ...
133
votes
5
answers
8k
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Why are vote buttons on Stack Exchange shown when they can't be used?
I've often wondered why Stack Exchange has opted to keep the upvote/downvote buttons available for clicking on question/answers posted by the user. For instance:
Even though these buttons have no use ...
- 1,363