Flexibility and Efficiency of Use
Shortcuts — hidden from novice users — may speed up the interaction for the expert user so that the design can cater to both inexperienced and experienced users. Allow users to tailor frequent actions.
This heuristic tells us that it's usually a good idea to give users an option to set up how they want to work with your app.
Some examples of applying the flexibility and efficiency of use heuristic
Letting users customize keyboard shortcuts
Allow users to define their own shortcuts for frequently used actions, like saving, opening, or switching views in a design tool or text editor.
Option to customize dashboard widgets
Let users choose which widgets and data they want to see on their home dashboard, such as recent activities, analytics, or quick action buttons.
Option to change color schemes and other settings in text editors
Provide options to customize the color scheme, indentation preferences, and syntax highlighting based on user preference and workflow.
Theming Options (Dark/Light/Focus Modes)
Offer multiple themes (e.g., dark mode for low-light environments, focus mode for distraction-free writing, or high contrast for accessibility).
Customizable Table Columns and Sorting
Allow users to choose which columns to display, rearrange their order, and set default sorting preferences to streamline their workflow.
Configurable Notification Settings
Let users decide how and when they receive notifications, such as enabling sound alerts for important events while muting less critical ones.
Saved Filters and Views
Allow users to create and save custom views with predefined filters, such as specific date ranges, status filters, or preferred data formats in reports.