Usability testing is a research method where you watch real people try to complete tasks with your product, so you can see where they struggle, hesitate, or get confused. It reveals problems you might miss on your own, because you already know how your design is supposed to work.
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Sessions can be moderated or unmoderated, in person or remote, and run on anything from paper sketches to a live product. The goal is always the same: uncover usability issues early, before they reach real users at scale.

Why does usability testing matter?

Usability testing helps you catch confusing flows, unclear labels, and broken interactions before you ship, saving you from costly redesigns down the line. It grounds decisions in real behavior instead of assumptions or opinions.

For example, you might ask five participants to sign up for an account while you observe and take notes. Even a handful of sessions can surface the same pain points again and again, giving you clear, actionable insights.

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