# UX Heuristic Audit Template

Structured template for conducting heuristic evaluations. Use this to systematically audit any interface.

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## Audit Information

**Product/Feature:** ________________
**Auditor:** ________________
**Date:** ________________
**Page/Screen:** ________________
**User Context:** ________________ (who is using this, what's their goal?)

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## Severity Scale Reference

| Rating | Severity | Priority | Description |
|--------|----------|----------|-------------|
| 0 | Not a problem | — | Cosmetic or disagreement |
| 1 | Cosmetic | Low | Minor annoyance |
| 2 | Minor | Medium | Delays or frustrates |
| 3 | Major | High | Significant task failure |
| 4 | Catastrophic | Critical | Prevents task completion |

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## Heuristic Checklist

### 1. Visibility of System Status

| Check | Pass? | Issue | Severity |
|-------|-------|-------|----------|
| Loading states are shown | [ ] | | |
| Actions provide immediate feedback | [ ] | | |
| Errors are communicated clearly | [ ] | | |
| Success is confirmed | [ ] | | |
| Progress is visible for long tasks | [ ] | | |

**Notes:**

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### 2. Match Between System and Real World

| Check | Pass? | Issue | Severity |
|-------|-------|-------|----------|
| Uses user's language (not jargon) | [ ] | | |
| Icons are recognizable | [ ] | | |
| Order follows real-world logic | [ ] | | |
| Metaphors are appropriate | [ ] | | |
| Terms are consistent with industry | [ ] | | |

**Notes:**

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### 3. User Control and Freedom

| Check | Pass? | Issue | Severity |
|-------|-------|-------|----------|
| Undo is available | [ ] | | |
| Cancel/Exit is always accessible | [ ] | | |
| Back button works as expected | [ ] | | |
| Users can skip optional steps | [ ] | | |
| Modals have clear close options | [ ] | | |

**Notes:**

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### 4. Consistency and Standards

| Check | Pass? | Issue | Severity |
|-------|-------|-------|----------|
| Same terms for same concepts | [ ] | | |
| Buttons/links styled consistently | [ ] | | |
| Follows platform conventions | [ ] | | |
| Layout is predictable | [ ] | | |
| Same actions work the same way | [ ] | | |

**Notes:**

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### 5. Error Prevention

| Check | Pass? | Issue | Severity |
|-------|-------|-------|----------|
| Destructive actions require confirmation | [ ] | | |
| Inline validation prevents bad submissions | [ ] | | |
| Constrained inputs prevent errors | [ ] | | |
| Defaults are sensible | [ ] | | |
| "Unsaved changes" warning exists | [ ] | | |

**Notes:**

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### 6. Recognition Rather Than Recall

| Check | Pass? | Issue | Severity |
|-------|-------|-------|----------|
| Options are visible (not hidden) | [ ] | | |
| Recent items/history is accessible | [ ] | | |
| Icons have labels | [ ] | | |
| Instructions are in context | [ ] | | |
| Previous input is remembered | [ ] | | |

**Notes:**

---

### 7. Flexibility and Efficiency

| Check | Pass? | Issue | Severity |
|-------|-------|-------|----------|
| Keyboard shortcuts for power users | [ ] | | |
| Bulk actions available | [ ] | | |
| Customization options exist | [ ] | | |
| Frequent tasks are quick | [ ] | | |
| Advanced features don't clutter basics | [ ] | | |

**Notes:**

---

### 8. Aesthetic and Minimalist Design

| Check | Pass? | Issue | Severity |
|-------|-------|-------|----------|
| Only essential info is shown | [ ] | | |
| Visual hierarchy is clear | [ ] | | |
| Whitespace is used effectively | [ ] | | |
| No unnecessary decoration | [ ] | | |
| Primary action is obvious | [ ] | | |

**Notes:**

---

### 9. Error Recovery

| Check | Pass? | Issue | Severity |
|-------|-------|-------|----------|
| Error messages are in plain language | [ ] | | |
| Errors explain what went wrong | [ ] | | |
| Errors suggest how to fix | [ ] | | |
| User input is preserved on error | [ ] | | |
| Error location is highlighted | [ ] | | |

**Notes:**

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### 10. Help and Documentation

| Check | Pass? | Issue | Severity |
|-------|-------|-------|----------|
| Help is searchable | [ ] | | |
| Contextual help is available | [ ] | | |
| Documentation is task-focused | [ ] | | |
| Tooltips explain non-obvious features | [ ] | | |
| Support is accessible | [ ] | | |

**Notes:**

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## Summary

### Issue Count by Severity

| Severity | Count |
|----------|-------|
| 4 (Catastrophic) | |
| 3 (Major) | |
| 2 (Minor) | |
| 1 (Cosmetic) | |

### Top Issues (Severity 3-4)

| # | Issue | Heuristic | Severity | Recommendation |
|---|-------|-----------|----------|----------------|
| 1 | | | | |
| 2 | | | | |
| 3 | | | | |
| 4 | | | | |
| 5 | | | | |

### Quick Wins (Low effort, high impact)

| Issue | Fix | Effort |
|-------|-----|--------|
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |

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## Task-Based Audit (Optional)

Test specific user tasks and note where issues occur.

### Task 1: ________________

| Step | Expected | Actual | Issue | Severity |
|------|----------|--------|-------|----------|
| 1 | | | | |
| 2 | | | | |
| 3 | | | | |

### Task 2: ________________

| Step | Expected | Actual | Issue | Severity |
|------|----------|--------|-------|----------|
| 1 | | | | |
| 2 | | | | |
| 3 | | | | |

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## Navigation/Trunk Test

Can users answer these questions immediately?

| Question | Can Answer? | Notes |
|----------|-------------|-------|
| What site is this? | [ ] Yes [ ] No | |
| What page am I on? | [ ] Yes [ ] No | |
| What are the major sections? | [ ] Yes [ ] No | |
| What are my options here? | [ ] Yes [ ] No | |
| Where am I in the site structure? | [ ] Yes [ ] No | |
| How can I search? | [ ] Yes [ ] No | |

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## Recommendations Summary

### Immediate (Severity 4)
1.
2.

### Short-term (Severity 3)
1.
2.
3.

### Medium-term (Severity 2)
1.
2.
3.

### Low Priority (Severity 1)
1.
2.