Heuristic evaluation is a process where evaluators determine the usability of a product. This is done by measuring the interface’s compliance with the generally accepted rules or “heuristics of UX.” The NN Group recommends using between 3-5 evaluators in a heuristic evaluation study in general.^[1]

The difference between heuristic evaluation and usability testing is that usability testing is carried out among potential or existing users. Conversely, heuristic evaluation involves evaluators who are subject experts — especially UX professionals.

The process of heuristic evaluation involves:

• Deciding what you are evaluating and against which heuristics
• Selecting your group of evaluators
• Having evaluators perform a task and rate any usability problems numerically on a scale based on the severity
• Comparing the individual results of each evaluator
• Prioritizing the problems in the order of severity
• Working with your team and implementing solutions^[2]