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What are the main types of usability testing?

Created on 2025-04-17 15:35:29
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There are several main types of usability testing, including:

  1. Moderated Usability Testing: In this type, a facilitator or moderator guides participants through the test tasks and collects feedback in real-time. This allows for follow-up questions and deeper insights.

    • Example: A facilitator observes a user navigating a new website and asks questions about their experience.

  2. Unmoderated Usability Testing: Participants complete tasks on their own without a facilitator. This is often done remotely using specialized software that records the user's actions and feedback.

    • Example: A user is asked to complete a series of tasks on a mobile app while their screen and interactions are recorded.

  3. Comparative Usability Testing: This involves testing the usability of multiple products or versions of a product simultaneously to identify which one performs better.

    • Example: Users are asked to compare the usability of two different checkout processes on e-commerce sites.

  4. Explorative Usability Testing: This type is used in the early stages of product development to gather initial feedback and identify major usability issues.

    • Example: A designer watches a user interact with a prototype of a new software application to uncover any design flaws.

  5. A/B Testing: Also known as split testing, this involves presenting different versions of a web page or app feature to different users to see which one yields better results in terms of usability and engagement.

    • Example: Half of the users see a blue "Buy Now" button, while the other half see a green one, to determine which color is more effective.

  6. Remote Usability Testing: This can be either moderated or unmoderated and is conducted online, allowing testers to reach a broader audience.

    • Example: A company uses an online platform to gather feedback from users in different countries on their new website design.

For businesses looking to implement these types of testing, cloud-based services like Tencent Cloud offer robust solutions for hosting and managing usability tests, providing scalability and flexibility to accommodate various testing needs.