What is Nielsen Heuristics?
A simple UX definition

Nielsen Heuristics is the set of cues that tell people what they can do next and why it makes sense. When it's strong, users move fast and feel confident.

Definition

Why it matters

It shapes trust. When the interface keeps its promises, people keep moving.

Real-world example

A primary button that looks disabled but still works, or a menu icon with no label.

Full explanation

A common mistake is over-explaining. If a screen needs a paragraph, the design is doing too much. Another trap is hiding the primary action because it looks cleaner. Clean isn't the same as clear. The goal is clarity that feels natural, not a layout that looks quiet in a screenshot.

Example: a checkout button that looks disabled but still works. That breaks trust fast. Or an icon-only toolbar with no labels. Experts might get it; beginners won't. Small decisions like these define the real experience, not the marketing copy.

Here's a quick gut check for Nielsen Heuristics: could a first-time user explain what to do without help? If not, the design is asking them to learn the system instead of helping them finish the task. That's a bad trade. Good Nielsen Heuristics makes the next step obvious and the outcome feel earned.

Here's a quick gut check for Nielsen Heuristics: could a first-time user explain what to do without help? If not, the design is asking them to learn the system instead of helping them finish the task. That's a bad trade. Good Nielsen Heuristics makes the next step obvious and the outcome feel earned.

Start by mapping the steps, then strip out anything that doesn't help the task. Use real user language, not internal jargon. Keep the important action loud and everything else calm. Test early with rough prototypes; you'll learn faster and waste less time polishing the wrong thing.

Nielsen Heuristics is one of those UX words that sounds abstract until you see it in the wild. It's the relationship between what a user expects and what the interface actually does. If the interface keeps its promises, users trust it. If it surprises them in the wrong way, they stop exploring. Trust is the currency here.

Nielsen Heuristics is one of those UX words that sounds abstract until you see it in the wild. It's the relationship between what a user expects and what the interface actually does. If the interface keeps its promises, users trust it. If it surprises them in the wrong way, they stop exploring. Trust is the currency here.