What is Tree Testing?

Tree Testing is a plain-text navigation test designed to measure the findability of information within a website or application. It allows researchers to evaluate how easily users can locate specific content based on the information architecture (IA) presented.

When to use Tree Testing?

Tree Testing should be used during the user research phase of product development, particularly when there are concerns about the effectiveness of the current information architecture. It is valuable when launching new features or redesigning existing ones to ensure users can navigate intuitively.

When not to use Tree Testing?

Tree Testing may not be suitable when the product is still in the early stages of development where the information architecture is not yet defined. Additionally, it is less effective if users are unfamiliar with the content area, as their lack of context can skew results.

What is the anatomy of Tree Testing?

The anatomy of Tree Testing includes a set of tasks that users must complete using a hierarchical representation of the content. This typically involves a plain-text version of the navigation structure, allowing users to explore and select options without being influenced by design elements. The results are analyzed to identify areas of confusion and validate the IA structure.