Testing: First click
TL;DR
Evaluate if users initially click in the correct area to complete a task. Predicts navigation success.
Detailed description
The First Click Test is a quantitative methodology that evaluates the effectiveness of information architecture by analyzing where users click first when attempting to complete a task. Research shows that if the first click is correct, users have an 87% chance of completing the task successfully, while an incorrect first click reduces success to only 46% (Nielsen Norman Group). This technique is particularly useful for validating navigation structures, menus, and information hierarchies before development, predicting navigation success based on initial user intuition.
Main objective
Evaluate information architecture intuition on first click.
Use cases
When to use it
After wireframes or mockups.
Effort level
Low to MediumRecommended number of users
20–50 participantesAdvantages
Disadvantages
When to use
Metrics
Practical example
Show wireframe and ask to find Order status, recording if the click was correct.