Findability and discoverability are two ideas in user experience (UX) that are connected to locating content or functionality on a website or in an application.

Despite the fact that they are linked, findability and discoverability are not the same thing, and the methods used to test them are also distinct.

Findability

Findability refers to the ease with which consumers can locate a piece of content or feature that they believe to be available. It’s similar to attempting to find your keys or your phone when you’re getting ready to leave your house and failing miserably.

You already know what exists somewhere; all you have to do now is figure out where it is in relation to your current environment. Discoverability, on the other hand, refers to the situation in which users come across fresh content or functionality that they were not previously familiar with. This was something they merely happened onto, rather than looking for it.

These are the wonderful surprises that life has in store for us. When you discover that thing that you didn’t even realise you needed, you’ll be overjoyed. Testing to see if anything is searchable on a website or in an app is a relatively simple process that anyone can do. And, as part of the usability test, inquire as to how much time it will take to locate the item.

Scavenger hunt tasks are a type of task that is occasionally used to describe this type of activity. The usual task writing criteria continue to apply, such as not providing them the precise labels they would see in the interface and concentrating on what the user’s conclusion would be and why they might want to access that piece of information or utilise that function.

Discoverability

Discoverability is a little difficult to evaluate because it is concerned with whether or not people notice something on their own, and you cannot directly inquire about it.

When conducting a usability test, you’re obliged to sit back and wait to see if the participant is aware of the existence of a particular feature or piece of content. If you probe or hint about it, you’ll be right back where you started: testing for findability.

The use of analytics data to measure discoverability is quite beneficial because it allows you to examine actual usage data. If visitors aren’t taking advantage of a feature or visiting a specific page, it’s likely that they aren’t interested in it, or that something about the navigation or user interface design is preventing them from discovering that it is available. Designing for discoverability entails putting important material and features in places where people are more likely to notice them.

As a result, it is frequently seen near the top of the page or adjacent to relevant UI elements. It is important to ensure that something can be found by placing it in the appropriate location.

In other words, does the organisation have a strong information sense, such that individuals know where to go to find the stuff they are looking for? Remember these distinctions the next time you’re evaluating content for your website or mobile application, as well as the various research approaches that were used to find them.