KPI · Move higher
Icon interpretation accuracy
Share of users who correctly predict what an icon or signifier will do before activating it.
Measure icon interpretation accuracy by showing the control in context and asking users what will happen if they activate it. Score whether they correctly predict both the action and the consequence.
This is stricter than recognition. A user may recognize an X, trash can, arrow, or refresh-like glyph and still predict the wrong system behavior. Use this KPI before shipping high-consequence icon-only or icon-led controls.
How patterns use this KPI
| Pattern | How it's instrumented | Why it matters there |
|---|---|---|
| Affordance Hijacking | screenshot/prototype test asking users what will happen before they click | Directly measures whether the signifier communicates the correct action and consequence. |