Webusable

Webusable is a term commonly used in discussions of web usability to describe how easily people can interact with web content and applications. It denotes the degree to which a site supports effective, efficient, and satisfactory use across devices, browsers, and contexts. In practice, webusable design emphasizes readability, navigability, performance, accessibility, and consistency.

Origins: The term is informal and not tied to a formal standard like WCAG. It appears in design guidance, evaluation frameworks, and academic papers as a shorthand for overall web usability and user experience.

Evaluation: Webusable assessment uses metrics such as task success, time on task, error frequency, accessibility compliance (WCAG), readability scores, responsive behavior, and load performance. Methods include usability testing, heuristic evaluation, cognitive walkthroughs, and automated checks with tools like Lighthouse or axe.

Criticism: Because it is not formally defined, interpretation can vary. Some critics argue that 'webusable' is vague and overlaps with existing terms like usability, accessibility, and UX. Proponents note that it captures a holistic, web-focused view of usability.

See also: Usability, Web accessibility, WCAG, Responsive web design, User experience, Performance optimization.