Numerous experts in software testing don’t really understand the meaning of usability testing and a way it should be executed.

Further, we’ll talk about [highlight dark=”no”]all usability testing myths and speculations[/highlight].

First myth: usability means GUI

Most testers know about two mutually exclusive types of software testing:

• Functional testing (checking if the functionality works properly or not);
• GUI testing (where necessary buttons are located, what is their size, color, and so on).

Functional testing may seem very important at this stage and GUI testing may be considered optional for everyday work of quality assurance organizations, look easy, and not critical.

But this work is actually usability testing itself.

And this is incorrect since GUI testing and usability testing are different things.

Usability is only a software function to satisfy the client’s needs and GUI is one of the usability testing types.

Software usability usually has the following features:

1. Has a list of available functionality and there is a possibility for a user to manage it;
2. Software functions are easily performed and rapidly studied;
3. All mistakes are made by users due to their misunderstanding.

Therefore, it’s not enough to simply change the color of buttons to have good usability and user satisfaction lies either on functional tests or GUI tests and user support.

Second myth: it’s easy to test usability

It’s not true. The testers who think that usability testing is easy, perform it, not using necessary techniques, and so completely discredit the term of usability testing.

To make your usability testing efficient and useful, you should possess the following skills and competencies:

• Understand main principles of usability and processes of GUI development;
• Have a huge experience in using software on such web platforms;
• Analyze a software business part;
• Understand users: the way they work with a product.

And still, you can’t simply apply your skills: any technical guess should be tested and reported by real users.

Third myth: a client knows how everything should work

If you work with custom-made software, someday you may simply go with the flow.

You can ask a client about his/her wishes and do this.

But there are some negative aspects of this:

1. Sometimes a client’s ideas are illogical;
2. A client doesn’t know all variants to deliver a project and sometimes he/she makes up something very complex;
3. If you constantly do everything a client wishes, this may turn software into a product that will simply lose its primary consistency and distinctiveness.

Short conclusion

Usability is a field in IT and web development that develops rapidly.

[highlight dark=”no”]Only if you overcome these myths, you will constantly improve software usability.[/highlight]