| name | Heuristic Review |
| description | "Use when reviewing a UI for usability defects, running a Nielsen heuristic evaluation, or auditing accessibility. Triggers on "UX review", "heuristic", "usability", "Nielsen", "WCAG", "a11y", "accessibility audit"." |
Heuristic Review
When to invoke
- "Review this dashboard screen for usability issues."
- "Run a heuristic evaluation on the onboarding flow."
- "Check if this form meets WCAG 2.2 AA."
Nielsen heuristics (checklist)
- Visibility of system status: user always knows what is happening.
- Match system and real world: language matches the user's vocabulary.
- User control and freedom: undo, redo, cancel are always available.
- Consistency and standards: same pattern = same meaning.
- Error prevention: confirmation on destructive actions.
- Recognition over recall: options visible, not memorised.
- Flexibility and efficiency: shortcuts for experts, clarity for novices.
- Aesthetic and minimalist design: no visual noise.
- Help users recognise, diagnose, recover from errors: plain language, actionable.
- Help and documentation: discoverable, task-oriented.
WCAG 2.2 AA quick checks
Review process
- Walk 3 primary flows as a first-time user. Note every friction point.
- Score each defect: severity 1 (cosmetic) - 4 (blocker), frequency 1-4.
- Cluster by heuristic. Look for systemic issues, not one-offs.
- Recommend the smallest fix that removes the defect.
Output template
## Heuristic Review - <Screen/Flow>
### Summary
- Screens reviewed: 7
- Defects found: 23 (4 blockers, 9 major, 10 minor)
- Heuristics most violated: #3 (user control), #5 (error prevention)
### Defects (top 10)
| ID | Severity | Heuristic | Location | Issue | Fix |
|----|----------|-----------|----------|-------|-----|
| 001 | 4 | H9 | Checkout error | "Err 500" shown to user | Replace with plain-language copy and retry action |
Quality gate
Every defect must cite a heuristic or WCAG criterion. Subjective opinions do not belong in a review.
