NielsenVisibility [principle] v1.0.0

Nielsen Heuristic 1: the system should always keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback within reasonable time.

The system should always keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback within reasonable time.

Attributed To

Jakob Nielsen, 1994

Applies To

• async operations: file uploads, form submissions, payments
• background processes: sync, indexing, AI generation
• navigation: indicating current location in a hierarchy
• multi-step workflows: showing progress and step count
• real-time data: dashboards, chats, collaborative editors

Counter Examples

• A form's Submit button that freezes with no loading state — users click repeatedly, causing duplicate submissions.
• A background data sync that silently fails — users work with stale data without knowing the fetch errored.
• A wizard-style checkout with no step indicator — users don't know if they are on step 2 of 3 or step 2 of 8.

NielsenVisibility [principle] v1.0.0

Nielsen Heuristic 1: the system should always keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback within reasonable time.

The system should always keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback within reasonable time.

Attributed To

Jakob Nielsen, 1994

Applies To

• async operations: file uploads, form submissions, payments
• background processes: sync, indexing, AI generation
• navigation: indicating current location in a hierarchy
• multi-step workflows: showing progress and step count
• real-time data: dashboards, chats, collaborative editors

Counter Examples

• A form's Submit button that freezes with no loading state — users click repeatedly, causing duplicate submissions.
• A background data sync that silently fails — users work with stale data without knowing the fetch errored.
• A wizard-style checkout with no step indicator — users don't know if they are on step 2 of 3 or step 2 of 8.

Sources

Examples

• Linear's progress bar during project import shows percentage + estimated time remaining — users know exactly how long to wait.
• Gmail's 'Sending…' → 'Message sent. Undo' sequence confirms the action completed and offers recovery in the same feedback moment.
• Figma's collaboration cursor labels show each collaborator's name in real time — the system status of 'who is here' is always visible.

Source

• Jakob Nielsen, 'Heuristic Evaluation', in Nielsen & Mack (eds.), Usability Inspection Methods (1994)
• https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/