Checklist for Checking of Performance Considerations of Websites

Posted in: Checklists for Testers & Developers

Checklist for Checking of Performance Considerations of Websites

Performance checking checklist is a very powerful fact-gathering tool deployed to ensure that our new web application behaves as expected from several performances related considerations.

Sr.	Check Point	Yes/No
Check Points related to Navigation
1.	Navigation supports user scenarios gathered in the User Task Assessment phase (prior to design).
2.	Users can see all levels of navigation leading to any page.
3.	Breadcrumb navigation is present (for larger and some smaller sites).
4.	Site uses DHTML pop-up to show alternative destinations for that navigation level.
5.	Navigation can be easily learned.
6.	Navigation is consistently placed and changes in response to rollover or selection.
7.	Navigation is available when needed (especially when the user is finished doing something).
8.	Supplimental navigation is offered appropriately (links on each page, a site map/index, a search engine).
9.	Navigation uses visual hierarchies like movement, color, position, size, etc., to differentiate it from other page elements.
10.	Navigation uses precise, descriptive labels in the user’s language. Icon navigation is accompanied by text descriptors.
11.	Navigation answers: Where am I (relative to site structure); Where have I been (obvious visited links); Where can I go (embedded, structural, and associative links)?
12.	Redundant navigation is avoided.
Check Points related to Functional Items
1.	Terms like “previous/back” and “next” are replaced by more descriptive labels indicating the information to be found.
2.	Pull-down menus include a go button. Logins are brief.
3.	Forms are short and on one page (or demonstrate step X of Y, and why collecting a larger amount of data is important and how the user will benefit).
4.	Documentation pages are searchable and have an abundance of examples.
5.	Instructions are task-oriented and step-by-step.
6.	A short conceptual model of the system is available, including a diagram that explains how the different parts work together.
7.	Terms or difficult concepts are linked to a glossary.
Check Points related to Linking
1.	Links are underlined.
2.	Size of large pages and multi-media files is indicated next to the link, with estimated download times.
3.	Important links are above the fold.
4.	Links to related information appear at bottom of content or above / near the top.
5.	Linked titles make sense out of context.
6.	If site requires registration or subscription, provides special URLs for free linking.
7.	Indicates the pages are freely linkable, and includes and easy method to discover the URL.
8.	If site is running an ad, it links to a page with the relevant content, not the corporate home page.
Check Points related to Search Capabilities
1.	A search feature appears on every page (exceptions include pop-up forms and the like).
2.	Search box is wide to allow for visible search parameters.
3.	Advanced Search, if included, is named just that (to scare off novices).
4.	Search system performs a spelling check and offers synonym expansion.
5.	Site avoids scoped searching. If included it indicates scope at top of both query and results pages, and additionally offers an automatic extended site search immediately with the same parameters.
6.	Results do not include a visible scoring system.
7.	Eliminates duplicate occurrences of the same results (e.g., abc.com/xyz versus abc.com/xyz/ versus abc.com/xyz/index.html).
Check Points related to Multimedia
1.	Any files taking longer than 10 seconds to download include a size warning (> 50kb on a 56kbps modem, > 200kb on fast connections). Also includes the running time of video clips or animations, and indicate any non-standard formats.
2.	Includes a short summary (and a still clip) of the linked object.
3.	If appropriate to the content, includes links to helper applications, like Adobe Acrobat Reader if the file is a .pdf.
Check Points related to Documentation and Help
1.	When using screen shots, browser chrome was cropped out.
2.	Hired a professional to write help sections (a technical writer).
3.	Documentation pages are searchable.
4.	Documentation section has an abundance of examples.
5.	Instructions are task-oriented and step-by-step.
6.	A short conceptual model of the system is provided, including a diagram that explains how the different parts work together.
7.	Terms or difficult concepts are linked to a glossary.
8.	Site has procedures in place to remove outdated information immediately (such as calendar events, which have passed).