What is a usability test?

A usability test is a study of the usability of services and websites for the end user. It serves both to estimate the project's business value and to determine what should be improved to lift its conversion rate. To run the test, a volunteer is needed who plays the end user and performs tasks on the site — e.g. finds a specific product in the store, adds it to the cart, and completes the transaction. Their path through the service interface is recorded, and the spots that turn out not to be intuitive or that cause any difficulty are noted as needing improvement.