Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines - Current Research-Based Guidelines on Web Design and Usability Issues

Home: Guidelines

Guidelines Sorting Tool

Sort the HHS Guidelines by clicking on any of these headers: Chapter, Title, Relative Importance, Strength of Evidence, and Relative Score. To learn more, visit How to Use the Guidelines Sorting Tool Most Effectively.

Guidelines by Chapter

Chapter TitleRelative
Importance
Strength
of Evidence
Relative
Score
1:1Set and State Goals5210
1:2Use an Iterative Design Approach5525
1:3Evaluate Websites Before and After Making Changes5315
1:4Provide Useful Content5525
1:5Understand and Meet Users' Expectations428
1:6Establish User Requirements4416
1:7Use Parallel Design4416
1:8Consider Many User Interface Issues4312
1:9Focus on Performance Before Preference4312
1:10Set Usability Goals4312
1:11Select the Right Number of Participants4416
1:12Be Easily Found on the Web4416
1:13Recognize Tester Bias3515
1:14Use Heuristics Cautiously2510
1:15Use Cognitive Walkthroughs Cautiously2510
1:16Apply Automatic Evaluation Methods133
2:1Display Information in a Directly Usable Format5315
2:2Do Not Display Unsolicited Windows or Graphics5315
2:3Provide Assistance to Users4312
2:4Provide Printing Options428
2:5Standardize Task Sequences4520
2:6Minimize Page Download Time4416
2:7Warn of "Time Outs"4312
2:8Reduce the User's Workload339
2:9Use Users' Terminology in Help Documentation339
2:10Provide Feedback When Users Must Wait3412
2:11Inform Users of Long Download Times339
2:12Do Not Require Users to Multitask While Reading3412
2:13Design For Working Memory Limitations3515
2:14Develop Pages that Will Print Properly224
3:1Comply with Section 508326
3:2Design Forms for Users Using Assistive Technology428
3:3Provide Text Equivalents for Non-Text Elements428
3:4Do Not Use Color Alone to Convey Information5420
3:5Provide Equivalent Pages326
3:6Ensure that Scripts Allow Accessibility326
3:7Provide Client-Side Image Maps339
3:8Enable Users to Skip Repetitive Navigation Links326
3:9Provide Frame Titles326
3:10Test Plug-ins and Applets for Accessibility326
3:11Synchronize Multimedia Elements224
3:12Do Not Require Style Sheets212
3:13Avoid Screen Flicker212
4:1Design for Common Browsers5210
4:2Account for Browser Differences428
4:3Design for Popular Operating Systems428
4:4Design for User's Typical Connection Speed428
4:5Design for Commonly Used Screen Resolutions224
5:1Create a Positive First Impression of Your Site5420
5:2Ensure the Homepage Looks like a Homepage5420
5:3Show All Major Options on the Homepage5210
5:4Enable Access to the Homepage4312
5:5Attend to Homepage Panel Width4312
5:6Announce Changes to a Website428
5:7Communicate the Website's Purpose326
5:8Limit Prose Text on the Homepage236
5:9Limit Homepage Length122
6:1Set Appropriate Page Lengths4312
6:2Use Frames When Functions Must Remain Accessible4416
6:3Establish Level of Importance4416
6:4Place Important Items at Top Center3412
6:5Place Important Items Consistently3412
6:6Structure for Easy Comparison3412
6:7Use Moderate White Space3412
6:8Align Items on a Page3515
6:9Choose Appropriate Line Lengths2510
6:10Avoid Scroll Stoppers248
7:1Provide Feedback on Users' Location5210
7:2Use a Clickable "List of Contents" on Long Pages4312
7:3Do Not Create Pages with No Navigational Options428
7:4Differentiate and Group Navigation Elements4416
7:5Use Descriptive Tab Labels4312
7:6Present Tabs Effectively339
7:7Use Site Maps3412
7:8Use Appropriate Menu Types3412
7:9Keep Navigation-only Pages Short248
7:10Use "Glosses" to Assist Navigation122
8:1Eliminate Horizontal Scrolling5420
8:2Use Scrolling Pages for Reading Comprehension3412
8:3Use Paging Rather Than Scrolling248
8:4Scroll Fewer Screenfuls224
8:5Facilitate Rapid Scrolling133
9:1Use Clear Category Labels5420
9:2Use Unique and Descriptive Headings5315
9:3Use Descriptive Row and Column Headings339
9:4Use Descriptive Headings Liberally3515
9:5Provide Descriptive Page Titles326
9:6Highlight Critical Data339
9:7Provide Users with Good Ways to Reduce Options224
9:8Use Headings in the Appropriate HTML Order122
10:1Provide Consistent Clickability Cues5420
10:2Avoid Misleading Cues to Click428
10:3Use Text for Links4416
10:4Use Meaningful Link labels4416
10:5Match Link Names with Their Destination Pages4416
10:6Ensure that Embedded Links are Descriptive4416
10:7Repeat Important Links4416
10:8Designate Used Links428
10:9Link to Related Content428
10:10Link to Supportive Information326
10:11Use Appropriate Text Link Lengths339
10:12Indicate Internal vs. External Links326
10:13Use "Pointing-and-Clicking"339
10:14Clarify Clickable Regions of Images339
11:1Use Black Text on Plain, High-Contrast Backgrounds5525
11:2Ensure Visual Consistency5525
11:3Format Common Items Consistently5210
11:4Use at Least 12-Point Font4520
11:5Use Familiar Fonts3515
11:6Emphasize Importance3515
11:7Use Attention-Attracting Features when Appropriate2510
12:1Order Elements to Maximize User Performance4520
12:2Display Related Items in Lists4416
12:3Introduce Each List4416
12:4Format Lists to Ease Scanning4416
12:5Start Numbered Items at One428
12:6Place Important Items at Top of the List3412
12:7Capitalize First Letter of First Word in Lists122
12:8Use Appropriate List Style144
13:1Distinguish Required and Optional Data Entry Fields5315
13:2Detect Errors Automatically5315
13:3Minimize User Data Entry5315
13:4Label Data Entry Fields Clearly5315
13:5Put Labels Close to Data Entry Fields5210
13:6Label Pushbuttons Clearly428
13:7Label Data Entry Fields Consistently4312
13:8Allow Users to See Their Entered Data4312
13:9Display Default Values428
13:10Use a Minimum of Two Radio Buttons428
13:11Use Radio Buttons for Mutually Exclusive Selections3412
13:12Use Check Boxes to Enable Multiple Selections339
13:13Use Familiar Widgets339
13:14Use a Single Data Entry Method3412
13:15Partition Long Data Items326
13:16Do Not Make User-Entered Codes Case Sensitive326
13:17Place Cursor in First Data Entry Field326
13:18Provide Auto-tabbing Functionality339
13:19Label Units of Measurement339
13:20Ensure that Double-Clicking Will Not Cause Problems326
13:21Do Not Limit Viewable List Box Options236
13:22Use Open Lists to Select One from Many224
13:23Prioritize Pushbuttons224
13:24Minimize Use of the Shift Key144
13:25Use Data Entry Fields to Speed Performance155
14:1Use Video, Animation, and Audio Meaningfully4520
14:2Include Logos4416
14:3Limit Large Images Above the Fold4312
14:4Limit the Use of Images339
14:5Label Clickable Images3412
14:6Ensure that Images Do Not Slow Downloads3515
14:7Use Thumbnail Images to Preview Larger Images326
14:8Graphics Should Not Look Like Banner Ads3412
14:9Use Simple Background Images3515
14:10Include Actual Data with Data Graphics3412
14:11Display Monitoring Information Graphically248
14:12Introduce Animation236
14:13Ensure Website Images Convey Intended Messages236
14:14Use Images to Facilitate Learning155
14:15Emulate Real-World Objects144
15:1Define Acronyms and Abbreviations428
15:2Use Abbreviations Sparingly428
15:3Use Familiar Words4312
15:4Use Mixed Case with Prose4520
15:5Avoid Jargon4416
15:6Make First Sentences Descriptive3412
15:7Use Active Voice3412
15:8Write Instructions in the Affirmative326
15:9Limit the Number of Words and Sentences3412
15:10Limit Prose Text on Navigation Pages339
15:11Make Action Sequences Clear248
16:1Organize Information Clearly5420
16:2Put Critical Information Near the Top of the Website5315
16:3Facilitate Scanning4520
16:4Group Related Elements4520
16:5Display Only Necessary Information4416
16:6Ensure that Necessary Information is Displayed428
16:7Format Information for Multiple Audiences4312
16:8Design Quantitative Content for Quick Understanding3515
16:9Use Color for Grouping2510
17:1Provide a Search Option on Each Page5210
17:2Ensure Usable Search Results5420
17:3Allow Simple Searches5420
17:4Make Upper-and Lowercase Search Terms Equivalent428
17:5Design Search Engines to Search the Entire Site414
17:6Design Search Around Users' Terms4416
17:7Notify Users When Multiple Search Options Exist339
17:8Provide Search Templates236

Department of Health and Human Services logo
Department of Health
and Human Services