About usability

A general definition, as provided by ISO 9241-11 (1998), defines usability as follows:

Usability is the extent to which a product can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction in a specified context of use. This means that usability is not a property of the product itself - it is a property of the entire system, including the product, the user, the user's goals, and the context of use.

Figure: Definition of usability by ISO 9241-11 (1998)