# nielsen-usability-heuristics

Audits UI components and interaction flows using Nielsen's usability heuristics. Helps spot missing feedback, confusing copy, and poor error handling.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 976 installs · ★ 165
- Author: dembrandt
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/dembrandt/dembrandt-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/nielsen-usability-heuristics/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-22
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/nielsen-usability-heuristics

## What it does

The skill equips coding agents with a structured usability checklist based on Jakob Nielsen's principles. When reviewing interface code, the assistant checks system status visibility and error prevention. Each heuristic provides a concrete review question to test the implementation.

Because it targets interface templates and component files, backend code will not trigger these checks. Automatic activation relies on directory patterns like `components/**` and extensions like `.tsx` or `.vue`. Explicit prompts containing phrases such as "ux review" or "ui audit" trigger the skill directly.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dembrandt/dembrandt-skills --skill nielsen-usability-heuristics -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/nielsen-usability-heuristics/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/nielsen-usability-heuristics/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dembrandt/dembrandt-skills --skill nielsen-usability-heuristics -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/nielsen-usability-heuristics/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dembrandt/dembrandt-skills --skill nielsen-usability-heuristics -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/nielsen-usability-heuristics/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install dembrandt/dembrandt-skills nielsen-usability-heuristics
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/nielsen-usability-heuristics/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dembrandt/dembrandt-skills --skill nielsen-usability-heuristics -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/dembrandt/dembrandt-skills --path skills/nielsen-usability-heuristics
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/nielsen-usability-heuristics/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dembrandt/dembrandt-skills --skill nielsen-usability-heuristics -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/dembrandt/dembrandt-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/nielsen-usability-heuristics/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- audit front-end components for usability flaws
- rewrite cryptic system error messages into clear language
- verify undo mechanisms and confirmation dialogs
- identify missing loading states and visual feedback

## Example prompts
- review this component for usability issues
- is this error message good
- how do I make this flow less confusing

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 5b10532f6afbd909.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 5b10532f6afbd909
```text
---
name: nielsen-usability-heuristics
description: Nielsen's 10 usability heuristics. Use when auditing an interface, designing interaction flows, writing error messages or reviewing usability.
metadata:
  priority: 8
  docs:
    - "https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/"
  pathPatterns:
    - "components/**"
    - "src/components/**"
    - "**/*.tsx"
    - "**/*.jsx"
    - "**/*.vue"
    - "**/*.svelte"
    - "design-system/**"
    - "ui/**"
  promptSignals:
    phrases:
      - "usability"
      - "nielsen"
      - "heuristic"
      - "ux review"
      - "ui audit"
      - "error message"
      - "user feedback"
      - "ui clarity"
retrieval:
  aliases:
    - nielsen heuristics
    - usability principles
    - ux heuristics
    - usability audit
    - heuristic evaluation
  intents:
    - audit ui for usability
    - improve error messages
    - review interaction flow
    - check ui against best practices
    - reduce user errors
  examples:
    - review this component for usability issues
    - is this error message good
    - how do I make this flow less confusing
---

# Nielsen's 10 Usability Heuristics

Foundational principles for evaluating and designing usable interfaces. Apply these as a review checklist and as design constraints from the start — not only as a post-hoc audit tool.

---

## 1. Visibility of System Status

The design should always keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback within a reasonable amount of time.

Users cannot make good decisions without knowing the current state of the system. Trust is built through clear, timely feedback.

**In practice:**
- Show loading states, progress indicators, and completion confirmations
- Indicate where the user is in a multi-step process
- Reflect state changes immediately (optimistic UI or loading spinners)
- Never leave a user wondering whether an action was registered

**Review question:** After any user action, is the outcome visible within 1 second?

---

## 2. Match Between System and Real World

The design should speak the users' language — words, phrases, and concepts familiar to the user, not internal jargon or system terminology.

Follow real-world conventions and natural mapping so the interface feels intuitive rather than requiring translation.

**In practice:**
- Use terminology the target audience uses, not what the engineering team uses
- Icons should match real-world objects or widely established web conventions
- Spatial metaphors should match real-world expectations (e.g. "trash" for deletion)
- Avoid exposing internal system concepts (IDs, error codes, process names) to end users

**Review question:** Would a user unfamiliar with this product understand every label and term?

---

## 3. User Control and Freedom

Users often perform actions by mistake. They need a clearly marked emergency exit to leave an unwanted state without going through an extended process.
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 5b10532f6afbd909

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