059Usability heuristic
Recognition rather than recall
Minimize the user’s memory load by making objects, actions, and options visible. Instructions should be retrievable when needed.
Why it matters
Recognition is easier than recall. Hiding options behind memory of names, locations, or sequences increases errors and slows experts and novices alike.
What to inspect
- Are important choices shown or suggested rather than typed from memory?
- Do navigation and search expose recent or relevant items?
- Is contextual help available at the point of need?
- Are field labels visible while filling long forms?
Common anti-patterns
- Mystery icons with no labels for non-obvious actions.
- Multi-step flows with no summary of prior choices.
- Commands that require memorizing syntax or shortcuts with no discoverability.
Critique prompts
- What must the user remember from a previous screen to succeed here?
- What could be shown as a choice instead of typed?