Search  

Many Web sites allow users to search for information contained in the site. Users access the search capability by entering one or more keywords into an entry field--usually termed a 'search box.' When there are words in the Web site that match the words entered by users, users are shown where in the Web site those words can be found. Each page of a Web site should allow users to conduct a search. Usually it is adequate to allow simple searches without providing for the use of more advanced features. Users should be able to assume that both upper- and lowercase letters will be considered as equivalent when searching. The site's search capability should be designed to respond to terms typically entered by users. Users should be notified when multiple search capabilities exist.

Usability.gov (2006). Design>Web Design>Usability>Search

Search and You May Find

This article addresses common aspects of search, including scoped, Boolean and advanced searches.

Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (1997). Design>Web Design>Usability>Search

Search Engine Optimisation Without Usability - An Exercise in Futility

A high search engine ranking is pointless if site users can't find what they want when they get to your website.

Claiborne, Scottie. Webcredible (2003). Design>Web Design>Usability

Search Engine Optimization: Designing a Search-Friendly Site  

In this article, the third in a series, Leonard-Wilkinson offers tips on how to make Web sites friendly to search engines.

Leonard-Wilkinson, Theresa A. Intercom (2002). Design>Web Design>Usability>Search

Search Engine Optimization: Keywords That Work  

Leonard-Wilkinson demonstrates search engine optimization, a process for making Web sites attractive to search engines.

Leonard-Wilkinson, Theresa A. Intercom (2002). Design>Web Design>Usability>Search

Search Engine Optimization: Making the Most of META Tags  

Leonard-Wilkinson offers advice on how to write effective TTLE- and META-tag descriptions.

Leonard-Wilkinson, Theresa A. Intercom (2002). Design>Web Design>Usability>Search

The Search For Seducible Moments

If you offer something that is unique to your organization, (and chances are that you do - that's why you're in business) then how do you make the users aware of these benefits? Jared Spool discusses how to identify these 'seducible moments'.

Spool, Jared M. User Interface Engineering (2002). Articles>Web Design>Usability

Search Interfaces

Typically, users know what they’re searching for even before they choose a search engine over the site’s navigation. In this investigation, I’d like to explore how we can provide a user interface to help them search more effectively before they get started. This investigation is about the ordering and structure of the search fields themselves, not the results, which have been the topic of much discussion already.

Danzico, Liz. Bobulate (2003). Design>Web Design>Search>Usability

Search: Visible and Simple

Search is the user's lifeline for mastering complex websites. The best designs offer a simple search box on the home page and play down advanced search and scoping.

Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (2001). Articles>Web Design>Usability

The Secret Benefit of Accessibility, Part 1: Increased Usability

Web accessibility has a huge number of benefits, one the main ones being increased usability. This article outlines some of the ways accessibility and usability overlap and how enhancing a website's accessibility can automatically improve its usability too.

Moss, Trenton. Webcredible (2004). Design>Web Design>Usability

The Secret benefit of search engine optimisation: Increased usability

Optimising a website for search engines can also improves its usability - find out why and how

Moss, Trenton. Webcredible (2004). Design>Web Design>Usability

Security and Human Factors

A big lie of computer security is that security improves as password complexity increases. In reality, users simply write down difficult passwords, leaving the system vulnerable. Security is better increased by designing for how people actually behave.

Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (2000). Articles>Web Design>Usability>Security

Security and Trust: Taking Care of the Human Factor

In the e-business chain, the last link that needs to be convinced of the security of an online transaction is the end-user. That is why this article puts forward a user-centred perspective of the problem of trust in online payments, derived from the discipline of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). We will first offer a general account of e-commerce system design, showing that there is more to trust than only security. The last part gives some recommendations on what can be done to increase consumers' trust.

Egger, Florian N. and D. Abrazhevich. ECommUse (2001). Design>Web Design>E Commerce>Usability

Seeing the World in Symbols: Icons and the Evolving Language of Digital Wayfinding

Of all the objects that occupy our digital spaces, there are none that capture the imagination so much as icons. As symbols, icons can communicate powerfully, be delightful, add to the aesthetic value of software, engage people's curiosity and playfulness, and encourage experimentation. These symbols are key components of a graphic user interface--mediators between our thoughts and actions, our intentions and accomplishments.

Follett, Jonathan. UXmatters (2006). Articles>Usability>User Interface>Graphic Design

Sensible Forms: A Form Usability Checklist

Sometimes it’s the little things that drive you nuts. As many of us have probably noticed during this season of holiday shopping, usability problems in online forms can be infuriating. Brian Crescimanno helps solve the problem with a checklist of form-usability recommendations.

Crescimanno, Brian. List Apart, A (2005). Design>Web Design>Usability>Forms

Server Log Analysis

Server log files are records of Web server activity (or server activity for any digital medium). They provide details about file requests to a server and the server response to those requests. Collecting and analyzing these files can provide: information about who is coming to your Web site; what information they're requesting; their navigation and behavior. What types of data you collect on your server depends on how it has been set up and defined by the technical staff.

Usability.gov (1998). Articles>Web Design>Usability>Log Analysis

Serving the Electronic Reader  

Everyone’s rushed in today’s electronic culture. Convenience is measured in kilobytes per second. A reader’s attention hangs on the click of a mouse. For many people, the Internet has become the preferred mode of communication. To tempt this audience, your Web site must provide a menu precisely attuned to your readers’ new tastes.

Moore, Linda E. Intercom (2003). Design>Web Design>Usability

Setting Usability Requirements For A Web Site Containing A Form  

We describe the challenges of understanding and setting usability requirements for a web site containing a form. We define 'usability requirements.' Ideally, usability requirements should be defined early in a project. In practice, we often find that the first opportunity we have is when we are asked to undertake an evaluation. Collecting the users' opinions of the requirements as part of the evaluation can often prompt the organization into investigating the users, leading to a better set of requirements and, eventually, a better web site.

Miller, Sarah and Caroline Jarrett. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>Accessibility>Web Design>Usability

Seven Steps to Usable Forms

Follow these seven steps to make your forms - and your users - happy.

Reichley, Keith. SitePoint (2002). Design>Web Design>Forms>Usability

Seven Usability Guidelines for Websites on Mobile Devices

Usability and page design for websites on mobile phones is very different to that of PCs. These essential mobile usability guidelines will help ensure your site works well for mobile visitors.

Warsi, Abid. Webcredible (2007). Design>Web Design>Wireless Web>Usability

Severity Ratings for Usability Problems

Severity ratings can be used to allocate the most resources to fix the most serious problems and can also provide a rough estimate of the need for additional usability efforts. If the severity ratings indicate that several disastrous usability problems remain in an interface, it will probably be unadvisable to release it. But one might decide to go ahead with the release of a system with several usability problems if they are all judged as being cosmetic in nature.

Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (1994). Design>Usability>Methods

Should Designers and Developers Do Usability?

Having a specialized usability person is best, but smaller design teams can still benefit when designers do their own user testing and other usability work.

Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (2007). Design>Web Design>Professionalism>Usability

Show Prices for Common Scenarios

B2B sites often have overly complex pricing structures or can't show prices at all. To help prospects with early research, list representative cases and their prices.

Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (2006). Design>Web Design>Usability>E Commerce

Simple Tricks for More Usable Forms

Web developers loathe the task of building forms almost as much as users loathe having to fill them in. These are both unfortunate facts of the Web, but some smart JavaScript and intelligent CSS can go a long way to remedying the situation. In this article, I'll introduce a number of simple tricks for improving the usability of forms, and hopefully inspire you to improve on them and create your own.

Willison, Simon. SitePoint (2004). Design>Web Design>Forms>Usability

Simplicity

Simple web design delivers huge benefits to designer, client and user. When a design doesn't seem to work, ask what should be taken away before asking what's missing.

Hunt, Ben. Web Design From Scratch (2006). Design>Web Design>Usability>Minimalism